Rijksmuseum MCP Server

Art & CultureTypeScript

Access and explore the Rijksmuseum's art collection through natural language

Available Tools

search_artwork

Search and filter artworks using criteria like text, artist name, artwork type, materials, time periods, and colors

get_artwork_details

Retrieve comprehensive information about specific artworks, including basic details, physical properties, historical context, and exhibition history

get_artwork_image

Access high-resolution image data with deep zoom capabilities, multiple zoom levels, and tile-based image loading

get_user_sets

Browse user-created collections and curated sets from the Rijksmuseum

get_user_set_details

Access detailed information about specific user-created collections

open_image_in_browser

Open artwork images directly in your browser for detailed viewing

get_artist_timeline

Generate chronological timelines of artists' works to track artistic development and analyze periods and styles

The Rijksmuseum MCP provides comprehensive access to one of the world's most renowned art collections. Through natural language interactions, users can search, analyze, and explore thousands of artworks from the Dutch Golden Age and beyond. This integration enables detailed artwork discovery, high-resolution image viewing, artist timeline analysis, and thematic exploration of the museum's extensive collection. Whether researching specific artists like Rembrandt and Van Gogh or exploring artistic movements, this MCP delivers rich metadata and visual content directly from the Rijksmuseum's official API.

Overview

The Rijksmuseum MCP server connects AI assistants to the extensive collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, allowing for natural language exploration of artworks, artists, and collections.

Installation

Prerequisites

Before installing, you'll need to obtain a Rijksmuseum API key from the Rijksmuseum API Portal.

Installation Options

Option 1: Using NPM Package (Recommended)

Update your Claude configuration file (located at ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rijksmuseum-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-server-rijksmuseum"
      ],
      "env": {
        "RIJKSMUSEUM_API_KEY": "your_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Replace your_api_key_here with your actual Rijksmuseum API key.

Option 2: From Source

Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/r-huijts/rijksmuseum-mcp.git

Install dependencies:
```
cd rijksmuseum-mcp
npm install
```
Create an environment file:
```
cp .env.example .env
```
Add your API key to the .env file:
```
RIJKSMUSEUM_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
```

Update your Claude configuration file:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rijksmuseum-server": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": [
        "/path/to/rijksmuseum-mcp/build/index.js"
      ],
      "env": {
        "RIJKSMUSEUM_API_KEY": "your_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Replace /path/to/rijksmuseum-mcp with the actual path to your installation.

After updating the configuration, restart Claude Desktop for the changes to take effect.

Configuration

The server can be configured through environment variables:

RIJKSMUSEUM_API_KEY: Your Rijksmuseum API key (required)
PORT: Server port (default: 3000)
LOG_LEVEL: Logging level (default: 'info')

Usage Examples

Once installed, you can interact with the Rijksmuseum collection through natural language queries. Here are some example use cases:

Artwork Discovery

"Show me all paintings by Rembrandt from the 1640s"
"Find artworks that prominently feature the color blue"
"What are the most famous masterpieces in the collection?"

Artwork Analysis

"Tell me everything about The Night Watch"
"What are the dimensions and materials used in Van Gogh's Self Portrait?"
"Show me high-resolution details of the brushwork in Vermeer's The Milkmaid"

Artist Research

"Create a timeline of Rembrandt's self-portraits"
"How did Van Gogh's use of color evolve throughout his career?"
"Show me all works by Frans Hals in chronological order"

Thematic Exploration

"Find all artworks depicting biblical scenes"
"Show me paintings of Amsterdam in the 17th century"
"What artworks feature flowers or still life arrangements?"

Collection Analysis

"Show me the most popular user-curated collections"
"Find sets that focus on landscape paintings"
"What are the recent additions to the museum's collection?"

Visual Details

"Let me examine the details in the background of The Night Watch"
"Show me a close-up of the jewelry in Girl with a Pearl Earring"
"Can you display the highest resolution version of The Jewish Bride?"