Dutch home life in 17th century
- Richard
- Jul 22
- 4 min read
Dutch artist and theatre practitioner Steef de Jong to transform the Rijksmuseum’s Philips Wing into the interiors of a 17th-century home using cardboard
The beloved Doll’s Houses of Petronella Oortman & Petronella Dunois are centrepieces of the immersive experience
Exhibition brings new perspectives on Dutch home life in 17th century, the time of Rembrandt, Vermeer and Frans Hals
This autumn the Rijksmuseum presents a major exhibition on domestic life in the 1600s, the time of Rembrandt, Vermeer and Frans Hals. At Home in the 17th Century offers an intimate glimpse into the everyday lives of families, parents and children from all walks of life more than three centuries ago. Designed by the Dutch artist Steef de Jong utilising cardboard, the 9 diorama-style galleries in the Philips Wing will offer visitors an immersive experience to follow 17th-century home life over the course of an entire day – from early morning till late evening. The exhibition presents highlights from the decorative arts alongside objects that were found in every household. The centrepieces of the exhibition are the famous doll’s houses belonging to Petronella Oortman and Petronella Dunois.
The exhibition At Home in the 17th Century is made possible by Rijksmuseum Friends, Stichting Zabawas, Stichting Thurkowfonds and through the Rijksmuseum Fonds: Fonds Dirk Jan van Orden, Lucy en Bas van der Vlist Fonds, Sara Geertruida Aalders-Huender Fonds, Fonds Sascha Ladenius and a private donor.
Personal stories
The exhibition zooms in on the lives of a variety of people, such as the Boudaen Courten family from Zeeland province. Many items belonging to members of this family have survived, including gilded furniture, portraits and one very remarkable relic: a bladder stone retrieved in a major medical procedure. All these objects will be on view together for the first time in centuries. We also take a peek into the world of the Utrecht artist Joachim Wtewael. In 1628 he painted a portrait of his daughter Eva, seated at a table that still exists. The painting presents Eva as the epitome of the ideal housewife, with a sewing cushion on her lap and a prayer book on the table. This vision of her future unfortunately never became reality. She died seven years after the completion of the painting and never married. The painting will be on show together with the table and the matching linen cupboard.
The Doll’s House of Petronella Oortman
Made in the period 1686–1710, the Doll’s House of Petronella Oortman is one of the most important objects in the Rijksmuseum. It was recently digitised for the first time. An online special devoted to the doll’s house will be published in October 2025. It will allow visitors to wander around the miniature rooms and even see glimpses of the usually hidden spaces. The doll’s house was already famous as a work of art in the 17th century, and it was never intended as a toy for children. Today, it serves as a valuable resource that tells us a great deal about life in the 17th century. It still contains many of the ordinary household objects – such as brooms and wicker baskets – that tend to disappear with the passing of the centuries. The doll’s house rightly takes a prominent place in the exhibition.
Cesspits
The exhibition takes a multifaceted look at how people lived in the 17th century. Together with Archeologie West-Friesland, the curators have studied the contents of the 17th-century cesspit at the home of the mayor of Hoorn and his family, the Soncks. The cookware, the crockery and the food waste tell us the story of what was on the family dining table, offering detailed insights into their eating habits. Cesspits found on Vlooienburg island in Amsterdam, by contrast, reveal that Portuguese immigrants to the city brought with them their own earthenware, and their own flavours.
Steef de Jong’s cardboard world
The designer of the exhibition is theatre practitioner and visual artist Steef de Jong. Just as he does for his theatre productions, he has used cardboard as the main material for the exhibition. His design takes the form of 9 diorama-style spaces that form the decor for a variety of domestic activities at various times of the day. Steef de Jong studied visual arts at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie. In 2013, he and Ina Veen founded Groots & Meeslepend, an ensemble creating live theatre productions that unfurl like life-size pop-up books. His multiple stage productions this year include Operetta Land at Nationale Opera and Ballet.
Collaborations
The educational offer for this exhibition includes a partnership with Sam and Julia from Karina Schaapman’s world-famous Mouse Mansion. Moreover, POLSPOTTEN is bringing out a tableware service inspired by the Rijksmuseum collection to accompany the exhibition.
Public events and activities
The audio tour will carry listeners off to a particular day in the 17th century, where they will hear stories about the people behind the objects.
An expert will explain all about what household belongings tell us about the people who owned them and their worldviews in a lecture.
Museum educators will be present in the exhibition at various times, ready to tell you all about the 17th century. Have you ever wondered how an ironing stone works, or what games people played?
Every weekend, families with children will be able to furnish their very own Mouse Mansion room, taking inspiration from the doll’s houses at the Rijksmuseum.
Visitors can take a little piece of the 17th century back home, in the form of do-it-yourself cards. They’re packed with all sorts of fun facts, like how to combat mosquitoes, as well as fantastic recipes.
On 22 November 2025 there’s a special low stimulus evening for adults.
Guided tours will be available for blind and visually impaired visitors every month.
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