Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides access to the Rijksmuseum collection through natural language interaction, enabling AI models to explore, analyze, and interact with artworks and collections.

Installation

NPX

npx -y mcp-server-rijksmuseum

From Source Code

git clone [repository]
npm install
cp .env.example .env
# Add your API key to .env file

Configuration

Claude Desktop (NPM)

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

Claude Desktop (From Source Code)

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

Available Tools

Tool	Description
search_artwork	Search and filter artworks by various criteria, including text search, artist name, artwork type...
get_artwork_details	Retrieve detailed information about specific artworks, including basic data, physical properties...
get_artwork_image	Access high-resolution image data with deep zoom capabilities, multiple zoom levels, tile system...
get_user_sets	View user collections and curated sets
get_user_set_details	Access detailed information about specific user collections, including thematic groupings...
open_image_in_browser	Open artwork images directly in the browser for detailed viewing
get_artist_timeline	Generate chronological timelines of artist works to track artistic development, analyze periods...

Features

• Search and filter artworks by various criteria
• Retrieve comprehensive information and metadata about artworks
• Access high-resolution images with deep zoom capabilities
• Explore user collections and curated sets
• Generate artist timelines and analyze career development
• Open artwork images directly in the browser
• Support for text search across the entire collection
• Filter by artist, artwork type, materials, techniques, time periods, and colors

Environment Variables

Required

• RIJKSMUSEUM_API_KEY - Your Rijksmuseum API key

Optional

• PORT - Server port
• LOG_LEVEL - Logging level

Usage Examples

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?

Tell me everything about The Night Watch

Show me high-resolution details of the brushwork in Vermeer's The Milkmaid

Notes

Requires a Rijksmuseum API key, which can be obtained through the Rijksmuseum API Portal (https://data.rijksmuseum.nl/docs/api/). The server provides access to the extensive Rijksmuseum collection with detailed artwork information, high-resolution images, and user collections.