The permanent presentation shows the interaction between the ancient and modern world and tells the storey of humankind’s unbridled curiosity, from the origins of writing to early industrial book production, to Assyrian merchants and theatre makers in Amsterdam.

Egyptian hieroglyphs, Greek pottery and Roman glass, Medieval manuscripts, 17th-century atlases and books, cookbooks and an extensive collection of plaster casts of famous classical statues — these are just examples of the items on display at the Allard Pierson. These heritage collections are an inexhaustible source of knowledge and stories.

Temporary Exhibition: 6 OCTOBER - 25 FEBRUARY - FACE TO FACE: THE PEOPLE BEHIND MUMMY PORTRAITS

Face to Face: The People Behind Mummy Portraits is the first exhibition about ancient Egyptian mummy portraits in the Netherlands. Besides items from our own collection, the show includes masterworks from the Louvre, the J. Paul Getty Museum and other international collections. Mummy portraits, often painted on wooden panels, were made during the Roman period in Egypt, from the 1st to the 4th century AD, and placed over the faces of mummified persons. They are also known as Fayum portraits, after the region where most works were excavated. Some 38 portraits from all over the world have been gathered for this exhibition. They bring us face to face with just as many individuals who had themselves immortalised almost 2000 years ago.

In Face to Face, visitors not only get acquainted with the portrayed individuals but also with the creators, descendants, followers, collectors, archaeologists, and researchers who play a role in relation to these portraits.