Topics in this newsletter:

• Grant for digital heritage projects
• Linked Open Data model for CBS historical collection
• Chabot Museum digitizes with Linked Open Data
• National Mill Day: Heritage that keeps turning
• Reminder Theme Meeting User Group

Grant for digital heritage projects

The Mondriaan Fund has reopened the scheme Heritage Media Digital. This scheme offers heritage institutions the opportunity to apply for grants for digital projects that tell historical stories in innovative ways. This can include podcasts, video series, or interactive online formats.

The scheme is intended for museums and other collection-holding heritage institutions in the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. A condition is that there is collaboration with a creative maker and that the project contributes to historical awareness through digital media. The deadline for submitting applications is June 12, 2025.

For institutions working with Atlantis, the storytelling module can align well with this. This module allows for the combination of images and text into stories, themes, or online exhibitions – all directly linked to the collection. Stories are recorded as regular collection items and can also be compiled by visitors through the public environment. Previous projects show how powerful digital stories can be in engaging your audience and enriching collections. The storytelling module makes it easy to create such stories and provides a solid foundation for your digital project.

Do you have plans to submit an application and want to know how the storytelling module can contribute? Let us know – we are happy to think along.

Linked Open Data model for CBS Historical Collection

The CBS has had an open data portal for publications and data for years, allowing users to independently work with data and metadata published by the CBS. This option is now also available for the historical publications on the CBS public environment.

This release uses semantic web standards, such as schema.org, and applies the principles of linked open data. This means that the terminology and structure of the metadata is shared with hundreds of similar (inter)national projects, significantly increasing the interoperability and findability of information.

Additionally, the historical data is enriched with classifications and access points developed by the CBS itself, such as the CBS taxonomy and geographical divisions – think of municipalities or economic regions. Integration with external conceptual frameworks, such as the National Term Network, is also possible thanks to the uniform linked open data model.

Atlantis plays a key role in managing these metadata structures and classifications in a consistent and sustainable manner as the underlying system. Thanks to Atlantis, this data can be efficiently linked, searched, and made available, with the application of schema.org ensuring optimal visibility through search engines.

Chabot Museum digitizes with Linked Open Data

In the podcast “Paulus and the Nijs on the road: Chabot Museum Rotterdam on the way to five checkmarks,” junior curator Kristel Witkam and director Jisca Bijlsma discuss the digital transformation of the museum. They explain how they have implemented the standards of the Digital Heritage Network, achieving almost all ‘checkmarks’ for NDE compatibility. This ensures that their collection can now be shared digitally and linked via linked open data.

The choice for Atlantis was made consciously, partly because other museums were already using this system. The system proved successful, as the collection is now largely digitally accessible and meets the guidelines of the Digital Heritage Network. Thanks to reusable metadata and the connection with other institutions, the work of artist Henk Chabot can be increasingly found and placed in a broader context.

Jisca Bijlsma emphasizes the importance of a well-organized collection management system: “Your collection is really the beating heart of your organization,” she says. “When that is in order, you can connect more easily.”

National Mill Day: Heritage that keeps turning

On May 10 and 11, the stories of mills will be told during National Mill Day, when hundreds of mills across the country open their doors to the public. Mills are much more than impressive structures: they are living monuments of our history, culture, and technology. The Foundation De Hollandsche Molen has been committed to preserving this special heritage for many years, along with thousands of volunteers who ensure that the mills keep turning and that their stories are preserved.

Not only physically, but also digitally, the mill heritage is becoming increasingly accessible. The Foundation De Hollandsche Molen uses Atlantis to describe all valuable information and then make it available. This enables researchers, volunteers, and the general public to discover and search the history of the mills online. Thus, work is being done not only to preserve stones and sails but also to keep alive the knowledge and stories that would otherwise be lost.

Reminder Theme Meeting User Group

Have you already registered for the digital theme meeting of the Atlantis User Group on Thursday, May 15, from 14:00 to 15:30?

During this session, the central question is: how open are we with our collections? Do we mainly focus on internal use, or do we also see the public and other heritage organizations as important partners? And what role does Atlantis play in this?

The meeting will take place online via Google Meet. Users of Atlantis have received an invitation. If you have not yet registered or have not received an invitation, let us know so we can forward the registration form.

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