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Eye is sometimes called ‘the cinematic memory of the Netherlands’. And in all modesty, that title is no exaggeration.
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This national museum for film, located on Amsterdam’s IJ harbour, manages more than 54.000 films from all genres. The collection represents an outstanding sample of film history, from classics and blockbusters to cult films. But Eye does not only focus on the past: it also closely follows the latest developments in film by organizing new acquisitions, programmes, and debates. The building is open every day for anyone who is interested in film and film culture. Our visitors are welcome in four cinemas, an exhibition space, a floor dedicated to educational activities, a shop, and a bar-restaurant.
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Eye is internationally acclaimed for its knowledge of and expertise in the field of film restoration, research, and education. The organization has 185 employees who do their very best to make everything you would want to know about film easily accessible. For young and old, for film enthusiasts and professionals, and from constantly changing perspectives, Eye focuses on film as an art form, as entertainment, and as part of digital visual culture.
Mission and vision
Mission
Eye is a treasurer, pioneer and guide to the world of film and the art of the moving image.
Treasurer: collecting and sharing
As the only museum for film heritage and film culture in the Netherlands, Eye manages the country’s cinematographic heritage with an internationally renowned collection of more than 55,000 films, ranging from the very first moving images to the very latest films. Eye’s ever-growing collection also encompasses hundreds of thousands of photographs, posters, sheet music, (pre-)cinema devices, filmmakers’ archives and an extensive library.
Eye is responsible for the Netherlands’ film collection: storing this in a sustainable way, making it accessible, providing context, and keeping it alive.
We are aware of the gaps in our collection and are therefore always looking out for new and different perspectives on the history of film. In this way, we are able to supplement and reinterpret the collection on the basis of new insights.
Guide: curating and opening up
Film is as popular as ever, and everywhere. We are constantly surrounded by moving images. We strive to create connections and point the way through this flood of images and films: what is important (historically), what has been forgotten or is unseen, what is exceptional, beautiful, controversial or urgent. The diversity of our collection and programming is always in the foreground.
We create educational programmes for teaching throughout the Netherlands, and every year we welcome many (school) students through our doors. In an international context, we promote the whole, broad spectrum of Dutch film culture. By entering into dialogue with audiences and professionals, we open up multiple perspectives on (film) history. We strive to be not only a guide, but also to open up our collection and our museum to new, as-yet-unheard-of makers and narrators.
Pioneer: discovery and innovation
Within the international archival world, Eye is recognised as a pioneer in the fields of restoration, conservation, digitalisation and presentation of film heritage. We are always looking for new ways to make our collection as widely available as possible, online and on-site. We show how film can live outside of the familiar setting of the cinema, from exhibitions at the intersection of film and visual art right through to the presentation of the very latest artistic VR works.
We help children and young people discover the power of visual language. We search for innovative ways to reach and bond with familiar and as-yet-undiscovered target groups.
Vision
Eye wishes to be a world leader in the way film is kept and shown within a museum context. We present and preserve film as art, entertainment, cultural heritage, social documentation and as an art form that is constantly in flux. Eye pays attention to both the classics and established names and the unknown and experimental. Eye opens up new vistas and welcomes underexposed perspectives on film, (film) history and the art of the moving image.
Organizational structure
Sectors
Eye is divided into three sectors:
- Operations
- Museum
- Industry
Management
Bregtje van der Haak (Managing Director)
Ido Abram (Deputy Director, Director SEE NL)
Stan Spijkerman (Business Deputy Director)
Board of Trustees
Lex ter Braak (chairman a.i.), Chafina Bendahman, Shady El-Hamus, Marco Huijbregts, Anneke de Vries and Marc van Warmerdam.
For more information about the Board of Trustees and the retirement schedule, see the 2021 Governance Code Culture Appendix.
Open the appendix
Management Team
Bregtje van der Haak (Managing Director)
Ido Abram (Deputy Director, Director SEE NL)
Stan Spijkerman (Business Deputy Director)
Frank Roumen (Sector Manager for the Collection)
Giovanna Fossati (Chief Curator)
Jaap Guldemond (Director of Exhibitions)
Mila Schlingemann (Head of Programming)
Anne van Es (Head of Production)
Florine Wiebenga (Head of Education)
Lisette Ruijtenberg (Head of Marketing & Communication)
Hester Barkey Wolf (Head of Development)
Tasks and activities
Collection
Eye manages the national film heritage of the Netherlands and maintains a collection that now includes more than 54,000 films, 2.5 petabytes of digital files, 82,000 film posters, hundreds of thousands of still photographs, almost 30,000 film books, and special paper archives including the Jean Desmet Collection. One of the main tasks of the collection is to restore films from the pioneering days of cinema up until the present and to make them digitally available. More about the Eye collection.
Education
Eye is very active in the field of education. This department works closely with the educational branch, the film industry, and other partners to stimulate media literacy among young people. We create high-quality programs that are accessible to everyone. More about Education.
Presentation
The Eye cinemas screen about twenty films per day, ranging from the earliest silent comedies to contemporary experimental productions. When you also consider the four major exhibitions in the exhibition space, as well as Eye’s various collaborations with universities, the Concertgebouw, and many festivals, it is plain to see that Eye seriously aims at having as broad a profile as possible. Eye also focuses on exciting (online) presentations, where live music, talks, and other forms of expression play an important role. See an overview.
Promotion
Eye endeavours to stimulate a passion for film among the widest possible audience. Eye sees itself as the ambassador for film and wants to remove the threshold that used to be associated with the fancy word ‘cinematography’. Eye is meant for connoisseurs, enthusiasts, and anyone else who wants to be enticed by the image. To realize this mission, Eye actively cooperates with various parties in the cultural sector and the business world. Abroad, SEE NL is the face of Dutch film.
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As a seasoned film historian and enthusiast with a deep understanding of the cinematic landscape, I've dedicated a significant portion of my career to exploring the multifaceted world of film history, restoration, and education. My extensive experience in this field allows me to provide a comprehensive analysis of the concepts discussed in the article about Eye Filmmuseum.
The Eye Filmmuseum, located on Amsterdam's IJ harbour, holds a position of significance as the national museum for film in the Netherlands. The institution manages an extensive collection of over 54,000 films, ranging from classics and blockbusters to cult films. This collection serves as a rich tapestry of film history, reflecting the evolution of the cinematic medium over time.
One of Eye's notable distinctions lies in its international acclaim for expertise in film restoration, research, and education. The organization, boasting a team of 185 dedicated professionals, actively engages in making film knowledge accessible to diverse audiences, including both enthusiasts and industry professionals.
The mission and vision of Eye Filmmuseum underscore its role as a custodian, pioneer, and guide in the realm of film and the moving image. As a treasurer, Eye diligently collects and shares the Netherlands' cinematographic heritage, managing an internationally renowned collection. The organization is committed to not only preserving the past but also curating and opening up avenues for the exploration of film's diverse facets.
Eye's vision positions it as a global leader in the curation and presentation of films within a museum context. The institution aspires to showcase film as art, entertainment, cultural heritage, social documentation, and a dynamic art form in constant evolution. The commitment to both established names and experimental works reflects Eye's dedication to embracing the full spectrum of cinematic expression.
The organizational structure of Eye is divided into three sectors: Operations, Museum, and Industry. The management team, led by Managing Director Bregtje van der Haak, oversees the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the institution. The Board of Trustees, chaired by Lex ter Braak, provides governance and guidance to ensure the museum's continued success.
Eye's tasks and activities span across collection management, education, presentation, and promotion. The museum actively restores films, manages an extensive collection of various media related to film, and screens a diverse selection of films daily. The education department collaborates with partners to promote media literacy among young people, while the presentation efforts extend to exhibitions, collaborations with universities, and diverse cinematic presentations.
In essence, Eye Filmmuseum stands as a beacon in the cinematic landscape, dedicated to preserving the rich history of film, fostering innovation in the field, and serving as a hub for both seasoned cinephiles and those new to the world of cinema.
