This document summarizes the history of digitization efforts in Dutch museums. It describes how the Dutch government has played a key role in financing various programs to stimulate digitization since the 1960s. These programs include coordinating organizations, large-scale national programs, and one-time grant projects. As a result of these financing efforts, Dutch museums have made significant progress in adopting digital technologies, with most now using computers, having websites, and having parts of their collections digitized. However, only a small portion of collection content is currently available online, indicating there is still work to be done in helping museums fully embrace and publish their collections digitally.

1. STPA Social Theory, Policy and the Arts Conference
Seattle
25-26 October 2013
Becoming digital:
Dutch historic perspective
Trilce Navarrete

2. Today
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Dutch policy on museum digitization
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Background
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Museums in the Netherlands
Government financing
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Historic overview
Types of programs
Results
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Current state of Dutch museums
And then … ?
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Dutch historic perspective
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3. How did we get there?
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Dutch historic perspective
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4. Dutch museums
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810 museums: most are independent managers of the national heritage
The government remains an important source of financing
Source of financing for digital activities 2012 (N=864)
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Dutch historic perspective
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5. Government financing
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1.
2.
3.
Financing instruments to stimulate digitization:
Coordinating organizations
National programs (wide coverage, multi purpose)
Grant projects (one-time opportunities, R&D, reduce digital divide)
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Dutch historic perspective
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6. Government financing
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Historic overview:
1969
1980
1990
20000
2010
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Dutch historic perspective
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7. Government financing
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1.
Financing instruments to stimulate digitization:
Coordinating organizations:
Give continuity to developing field
•
MARDOC €1.3 million in 20 years
DEN Foundation currently €1 million per year
National programs: (wide coverage, multi purpose)
•
1.
•
Delta Plan €95 million + €150 million
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Digital Delta €1.8 million
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Great long-term impact
eCulture €24 million
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Dutch historic perspective
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8. Government financing
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1.
Change practice by setting requirements
Financing instruments:
Grant projects (one-time opportunities, R&D, reduce digital divide)
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Fishing documentation €7k
•
SMA €2.8 million (85 projects)
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PC-museum project €0.1 million
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Metamorfoze €8 + €10 + €48 million (< 6 million images)
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CATCH €6 + €3 million (10 projects)
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Digitization with a policy €12.2 million (57 projects)
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Images for the Future €154 million (3 institutions)
Becoming digital:
Dutch historic perspective
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9. Results
1.
Adoption of the digital:
Museums using computers (PCs)
1.
1987 = 6%  2009 = 97%
Museums connected to the Internet (have a website)
1.
1995 = 7%  2007 = 99%
Collections registered digitally
1.
1983 = 7%  2009 = 81%  2012 = 70% digital image
Collections published online
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•
•
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2008 = 8%  2012 = 25%
Information plans
•
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2007= 6%  2012 = 55%
Becoming digital:
Dutch historic perspective
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10. Results
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Adoption of the digital:
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Dutch historic perspective
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11. And then …?
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Even though the advancements are impressive, only a hand full of
museums are becoming digital
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If 70% of collections are digitized, and only 25% are available online,
the public is missing out ! (though it is better than the 6% exhibited)
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There is no data on why museums struggle to publish online
(Know-how? Copyright? Gatekeeper withdrawal? Resources?)
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Future policy should support lower barriers to embrace the digital
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Dutch historic perspective
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12. Thank you !
Navarrete, Trilce (2014) A history of Digitization: Dutch Museums
Questions ?
T.Navarrete@uva.nl
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Dutch historic perspective
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