Unseen 19th Century costumes at Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder, Amsterdam

Never before seen 19th-century fashion in Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder Costumes from the Rijksmuseum depot on display in Fashion from the Rijksmuseum at Home.

As soon as the lockdown is lifted, Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder shows the exhibition Fashion from the Rijksmuseum in the house. The exhibition consists of a unique collection of 19th-century costumes from the depot of the Rijksmuseum. Such clothing was worn by the women and children who went to the hidden church here and has largely never been seen before. The garments are made with precious fabrics and are of high quality, making them well preserved. The fashion exhibition can be visited in combination with the internship studio of the young fashion company CRUÈL, which is also located in the museum. In this way the museum bridges the gap between the role of fashion in the past and the slow fashion trend of today. Founder and designer William Ampofo supervises four MBO students of the Fashion Design program in the studio. Together they work towards a special slow fashion collection inspired by the museum and the 19th-century costumes from the Rijksmuseum. The exhibition and the fashion studio can be visited until 9th June.

Never-before-seen 19th-century fashion 

The gowns, coats and children’s dresses in the exhibition come from the Rijksmuseum depot and have largely never been shown to the public before. Visitors can admire this 19th century fashion in a place where it has also been worn. The combination with the often decorated rooms of the 19th century, visitors imagine themselves back in time. The clothes on display were worn by women and children from the better classes. Clothing was expensive, worn for a long time and always updated according to the latest fashion. The exhibition shows the development of forms, techniques and materials and thus also the fashion sense and taste of 19th-century church visitors. 

Unique internship for Fashion Designers 

During the fashion exhibition, Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder will also temporarily be the home of the young fashion brand CRUÈL, founded by William Ampofo. Four students of the Fashion Design MBO program can start their internship on 1 March. Due to the current corona measures, many MBO students are unable to find an internship. The museum therefore decided to join forces with fashion designer Ampofo and the ROC of Amsterdam. The studio offers students a platform to work in a special place during their training and to integrate the theme of the museum in their designs. 

About the museum ‘Ons Lieve Heer op Solder 

In the heart of Amsterdam’s city center and hidden in a 17th-century canal house, Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder is located. The museum consists of two buildings that are connected by an underground passage. A fully furnished house church can be found in the attic of the historic house; the best kept secret in Amsterdam.

Photo by Rebekka Mell