Activities

On Thursday 19 November, the Nederlands Fotomuseum opens Violette Cornelius Rediscovered. Join us for the opening evening and be among the first to see more than 200 works by photographer and resistance fighter Violette Cornelius (1919–1998).

Much of her work remained hidden for decades and only came to light after suitcases filled with negatives, slides, prints and documents were discovered. The exhibition brings together her photography, personal documents and archival material, shedding new light on her life and work.

The evening begins with a short welcome by Head of Collections Martijn van den Broek. Curator Loes van Harrevelt will then introduce the story behind Cornelius and her rediscovered work. From 7.15 PM, the exhibition will be open and a DJ will play until 10 PM.

Admission is free. Register in advance using the RSVP button.

Programme:
6.30 PM – Doors open
7 PM – Welcome and introduction to Violette Cornelius Rediscovered
7.15 – 10 PM – Exhibition open + DJ

Practical Information:
Date: Thursday 19 November 2026
Time: 6.30 PM
Tickets: RSVP

How many photos on your phone have you not looked at in a long time? During this Zine Workshop with Sjef, librarian at the Nederlands Fotomuseum, you’ll give eight photos from your personal archive a place on paper.

You’ll create your own zine: a small photobook made from a single sheet of paper using a special folding technique. By combining photographs, you’ll create a new story from existing images.

The exhibition Violette Cornelius Rediscovered provides the starting point. From 1964 onwards, Cornelius travelled to countries including Iraq, India, Iran, Yemen and Peru. There, she photographed, among other things, the everyday lives of families she visited over an extended period. What stories might you discover when you revisit your own travel photos and memories?

The workshop takes place during the evening opening and is part of the nationwide Fotoboekenweek (Photobook Week), which aims to make the photobook more accessible and visible.

Please bring your phone to the workshop.

Practical information
Date: 26 November 2026
Time: 6 PM – 8 PM
Location: Library of the Nederlands Fotomuseum
Participation: Free, walk-in
Please bring: Phone

India, 1966-1970

© Violette Cornelius / Nederlands Fotomuseum

On Thursday 26 November, the Nederlands Fotomuseum will be open until 9 PM. This evening opening is dedicated to Fotoboekenweek (Photobook Week) and the new exhibition Violette Cornelius Rediscovered.

In the library in the entrance hall, you can take part in a zine workshop led by librarian Sjef. Create your own zine: a small photobook made from a single sheet of paper using a special folding technique. You can also explore our Curator’s Pick for Violette Cornelius Rediscovered: a selection of photobooks chosen by curator Loes van Harrevelt from the museum’s photobook collection.

Throughout the evening, you can also visit the exhibition Violette Cornelius Rediscovered.

Practical information
Date: Thursday 26 October 2026
Time: open until 9 PM

The Nederlands Fotomuseum library holds nearly 26,000 books on photography, offering opportunity for research and further exploration.

As part of Fotoboekenweek (Photobook Week), curator Loes van Harrevelt and other curators from the Nederlands Fotomuseum have selected a series of books from the collection. The selection connects with the themes of the exhibition Violette Cornelius Rediscovered and offers additional context on the life and work of photographer Violette Cornelius.

From 25 November to 12 December, you can discover the Curator’s Pick in the library of the Nederlands Fotomuseum. Located in the museum’s entrance area, the library is free to visit during regular opening hours. Please note that the library is closed on Sundays.

At the Nederlands Fotomuseum, the exhibition Quickscan 3: Photography Now is on view, in which twenty photographers and visual artists working in the Netherlands explore what photography can be today. Soon, Violette Cornelius Rediscovered will open, an exhibition that brings together the life and work of photographer and resistance fighter Violette Cornelius (1919-1998).