Nederlands Steendrukmuseum

In the Nederlands Steendrukmuseum (Dutch Museum of Lithography) the visitor will learn about all aspects of Stoneprinting or lithography, as invented by Alois Senefelder in 1798. In the beginning in 'black and white' and since 1837 in colour. Senefelder’s invention brought about the second great revolution after the invention of the art of printing by Johann Gutenberg. People were taught to watch images and soon lithography became an extremely important factor. In 1809 the first stoneprints appeared in the Netherlands in the city of Rotterdam. The collection of the museum is in its form and extent the greatest and unique in the world. In the Dutch Museum of Lithography the visitor can see a very extensive collection of images(products) and the technique of printing. In a detailed way you are shown both the historical and technical sides of lithography as well as the cultural side. Visitors can watch and experience this phenomenal invention, its development and the extensive usage, especially in the commercial field. Regular stoneprinting demonstrations can also be watched in the workshop. The collection, brought together by the founder of the museum, Ir. Peter-Louis Vrijdag, comprises a.o. book illustrations, cartography, posters, musical scores and playing cards. You can also admire “poezie plaatjes” i.e. scraps for children’s albums in which friends write verses, labels, picture postcards, artistic prints, caricatures, satirical magazines, children’s toys and printed images on tins. Among others you will see work by famous artists such as Jan Toorop, Kees van Dongen, Alphonse Mucha, Adolphe Willette and Jan Sluyters. A number of the lithographic presses in the museum are still regularly used. The collection consists of various lithographic presses. You can see e.g. a replica of the three-metre tall wooden press, the first made by the inventor Alois Senefelder. Moreover, impressive 6-ton weighing fast presses from the 19th and 20th centuries. And all in working condition. You can also take an active part in the museum yourself : e.g. you can try and test yourself in mixing colours or, during conducted tours, you can dry a stone or even handle a handpress yourself. In our museum workshops are regularly held as well as printing demos and furthermore you can watch artists at work : every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday our printers are handling the presses in the museum studio.