Rijksmuseum MCP Server
by
Provides natural‑language access to the Rijksmuseum collection, enabling exploration, analysis, and retrieval of artwork details and high‑resolution images.
Rijksmuseum MCP Server Overview
What is Rijksmuseum MCP Server about?
Rijksmuseum MCP Server exposes the Rijksmuseum’s collection through tools that can be invoked via natural language. It lets AI models and users search artworks, fetch detailed metadata, retrieve high‑resolution image tiles, explore user‑curated sets, open images in a browser, and generate artist timelines.
How to use Rijksmuseum MCP Server?
- Install – either add the npm package with
npx -y mcp-server-rijksmuseum(recommended) or run the built server from source. - Configure – set the environment variable
RIJKSMUSEUM_API_KEYwith a valid API key from the Rijksmuseum API portal. Optionally adjustPORTandLOG_LEVEL. - Add to Claude – update the Claude Desktop configuration file to point to the MCP server, using the command and arguments shown in the
serverConfigsection. - Interact – issue natural‑language queries that map to the provided tools (e.g.,
search_artwork,get_artwork_details). The server returns structured responses that can be consumed by downstream AI workflows.
Key Features of Rijksmuseum MCP Server
- Search Artworks – filter by text, artist, type, materials, time period, colors, etc.
- Artwork Details – retrieve comprehensive metadata including provenance, dimensions, techniques, and exhibition history.
- High‑Resolution Images – access tiled deep‑zoom images with multiple zoom levels.
- User Collections – browse and inspect user‑created sets and thematic groupings.
- Open Image in Browser – launch a high‑resolution view directly in the default web browser.
- Artist Timeline – generate chronological timelines of an artist’s works.
Use Cases of Rijksmuseum MCP Server
- Artwork Discovery: Find paintings by Rembrandt from the 1640s or all works featuring a specific color.
- Artwork Analysis: Examine brushwork details, compare color palettes across versions, or retrieve material specifications.
- Artist Research: Build timelines of an artist’s self‑portraits, track stylistic evolution, or study technique usage.
- Thematic Exploration: Locate biblical scenes, Dutch Golden Age still lifes, or portraits with musical instruments.
- Collection Analysis: Identify popular user‑curated sets, recent acquisitions, or multi‑artist collections.
- Visual Detail Inspection: Zoom into high‑resolution tiles for close‑up study of specific elements (e.g., jewelry in Girl with a Pearl Earring).
FAQ from the Rijksmuseum MCP Server
Q: Do I need a Rijksmuseum API key?
A: Yes. Register at the Rijksmuseum API portal and set RIJKSMUSEUM_API_KEY in the environment.
Q: Which command should I use for installation?
A: The recommended approach is npx -y mcp-server-rijksmuseum which handles package fetching and execution.
Q: Can I run the server on a custom port?
A: Set the PORT environment variable; default is 3000.
Q: How are images delivered? A: Images are provided as tiled deep‑zoom resources, allowing incremental loading of high‑resolution data.
Q: Is there documentation for the underlying Rijksmuseum API? A: Yes, refer to the official Rijksmuseum API docs at https://data.rijksmuseum.nl/object-metadata/api/.
Q: How do I add the server to Claude Desktop?
A: Include the configuration shown in the serverConfig field below, then restart Claude Desktop.
Rijksmuseum MCP Server's README
Rijksmuseum MCP Server
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides access to the Rijksmuseum's collection through natural language interactions. This server enables AI models to explore, analyze, and interact with artworks and collections from the Rijksmuseum.
Features
The server provides several tools for interacting with the Rijksmuseum's collection:
1. Search Artworks (search_artwork)
Search and filter artworks using various criteria including:
- Text-based search
- Artist name
- Artwork type
- Materials and techniques
- Time periods
- Colors
- And more
2. Artwork Details (get_artwork_details)
Retrieve comprehensive information about specific artworks, including:
- Basic details (title, artist, dates)
- Physical properties
- Historical context
- Visual information
- Curatorial information
- Exhibition history
3. High-Resolution Images (get_artwork_image)
Access high-resolution image data with deep zoom capabilities:
- Multiple zoom levels
- Tile-based image loading
- Full resolution support
- Position information
4. User Collections (get_user_sets & get_user_set_details)
Explore user-created collections:
- Browse curated sets
- View thematic groupings
- Analyze collection patterns
- Access detailed set information
5. Image Viewing (open_image_in_browser)
Open artwork images directly in your browser for detailed viewing.
6. Artist Timeline (get_artist_timeline)
Generate chronological timelines of artists' works:
- Track artistic development
- Analyze periods and styles
- Study career progression
Example Use Cases
Here are some example queries you can ask the AI when using this server:
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?"
"Search for still life paintings from the Dutch Golden Age"
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"
"Compare the colors used in different versions of The Potato Eaters"
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"
"What techniques did Jan Steen use in his paintings?"
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?"
"Find portraits that include musical instruments"
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?"
"Show me collections featuring works from multiple artists"
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?"
"I want to study the facial expressions in The Syndics"
Getting Started
You can install this server in two ways:
1. Using Claude Desktop with NPM Package
Update your Claude configuration file (~/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"
}
}
}
}
You can get an API key from the Rijksmuseum API Portal.
2. From Source
- Clone this repository
- Install dependencies:
npm install - Copy the example environment file:
cp .env.example .env - Add your Rijksmuseum API key to the
.envfile:RIJKSMUSEUM_API_KEY=your_api_key_here - Then update your Claude configuration file:
{ "mcpServers": { "rijksmuseum-server": { "command": "node", "args": [ "/path/to/rijksmuseum-server/build/index.js" ], "env": { "RIJKSMUSEUM_API_KEY": "your_api_key_here" } } } }
Make sure to:
- Replace
/path/to/rijksmuseum-serverwith the actual path to your installation - Add your Rijksmuseum API key in the
envsection
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')
API Documentation
For detailed information about the Rijksmuseum API endpoints used by this server, visit: Rijksmuseum API Documentation
Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit pull requests or create issues for bugs and feature requests.
License
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
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Rijksmuseum MCP Server's Information
Configuration
{
"mcpServers": {
"rijksmuseum-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-server-rijksmuseum"
],
"env": {
"RIJKSMUSEUM_API_KEY": "<YOUR_API_KEY>"
}
}
}
}Claude Code (Terminal)
claude mcp add rijksmuseum-server npx -y mcp-server-rijksmuseumConfigure Clients
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