The Collection & Research Department consists of 18 colleagues who work on the collection, research, and exhibitions of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and The Mesdag Collection in The Hague. Within this dedicated team, you will have plenty of opportunities to learn from your colleagues.
The internship is designed to provide hands-on research experience, contribute to our team’s work, and offer you the chance to get to know the Van Gogh Museum from the inside.
What will you do?
In this internship, you will work closely with the Curator of Paintings on a multi-year research and exhibition project about the representation of adolescence around 1900. The exhibition explores how and why the life stage of adolescence, as we know it today, emerged at the turn of the twentieth century.
Through European visual art from the period 1875–1914, it highlights how adolescents first began to play a visible role in the visual arts of that time. The lived experience of adolescents takes centre stage, with explicit attention to the adolescent creator and the adolescent model as subjects. The cultural significance of the theme of adolescence is also examined.
If you enjoy in-depth research and are interested in learning more about the work of museum curators and researchers, this internship is for you! Below is an overview of your key tasks:
- Conducting art-historical and historical research on the adolescent life stage around 1900
- Contributing to the development of a database of artworks related to the theme of adolescence
- Carrying out literature research on contemporary sources about adolescence and youth culture
- Assisting in the preparation of loan requests
- In consultation with the curator, the possibility exists to pursue a focused individual research topic
Who are you?
For this internship, we are looking for an inquisitive and enthusiastic Master’s student who enjoys conducting in-depth research. You are able to maintain an overview of multiple tasks, communicate clearly, and work both independently and collaboratively. You thrive in a dynamic, stimulating environment.
- You are enrolled in a Master’s programme in Art History, Cultural Studies or History, preferably a research Master’s;
- You have a demonstrated interest in visual art, visual culture, cultural history, social history and/or image culture;
- Proficiency in Outlook, Word and PowerPoint is required;
- Excellent command of both Dutch and English, spoken and written, is required; proficiency in French and/or German is an advantage.
If you have a research assignment as part of your studies, we are happy to discuss the possibilities together.
What do we offer?
In the heart of Amsterdam, you will find yourself in a cultural and ambitious work environment where you are encouraged to make the most of your talents and those of your team. Here, you can take the next steps in your career while contributing to a world-renowned institution. The Museum Collective Labour Agreement (CAO) applies. In addition, we offer:
- An internship allowance of €550 gross per month (based on a 36-hour work week);
- An iPhone, laptop, and the possibility to work in a hybrid setting;
- Inspiring sessions together with fellow interns.
Will you join us?
Are you enthusiastic about this internship and would you like to temporarily join our team? We would love to hear from you! Please send your motivation letter and CV (in PDF format) via the application button before 12 December 2025.
For more information, you can contact Lisa Smit (Curator of Paintings) at: l.smit@vangoghmuseum.nl. Interviews will take place in the week of 15 December.