At Home in the Collection At Home in the Collection

Does ending up in a retirement home sound like a nightmare? This photo may offer some hope. The light-filled space, the abundance of greenery, the chat over a cup of coffee or a game – you can’t get much closer to the feeling of home. J.P. Kloos. Home for the elderly, Heemstede, 1963-1968. Photographer unknown. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, KLOO ph66

Today, offices are often furnished as efficiently as possible, but things were different back in the early 1900s. Just look at the enormous space. It looks more like a living room, with those beautiful lace curtains and carpets, and art on the walls. Why would anyone want to work from home? Van Nieukerken. Office building of the Bataafsche Petroleum Maatschappij (later Shell), The Hague, 1915-1930. Photographer unknown. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, NIEU ph 455

A family portrait that wouldn’t look out of place on Instagram: nonchalant, yet clearly posed. The interior, not too formal but not untidy, is equally calculated: the toys, books and sewing things seem to have been carefully chosen to create a certain atmosphere. K.P.C. de Bazel. Family photo. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, BAZE, 1546-11

The essence of cosiness and comfort – just look at the polished wood on those rounded corners! The velvet cushions, the plush carpets and curtains! Does daylight ever get in here? It's a bit suffocating, perhaps, but so well designed it has a kind of claustrophobic beauty. P. Kramer. Study-living room, n.d. Photographer unknown. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, Exhibition Council archives, TENT o455

Like cats finding the warmest place in the house, these two recline and relax in front of the window. Ignoring the empty chairs, they prefer to lie together on the cushion, enjoying the feel of the sun on their faces as its shines through the huge windows. E. Jelles. The Schepers’ holiday home, Parpan, Switzerland, 1962. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, JELL 188-04

Johan Niegeman collected photos for his home handbook. This one probably shows what not to do. The kitchen is cramped and poorly lit. Photographing the space from this angle doesn’t help either – any more than that pan of potatoes balancing on the edge of the counter. Tiny kitchen. Photo: possibly Koen Limperg (stamp on the back). Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, J.C.H. Niegeman, NIEG, PH498.

Isn’t this a bit strange? The living room isn’t short of chairs, yet a child is deliberately, defiantly almost, lying on the floor and pointedly staring straight at us. The interior looks like a nice place to visit, but the child makes it a bit unsettling. K.P.C. de Bazel. J. de Leeuw’s house, Laren, 1913. Photographer unknown. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, BAZE 1480

Nothing makes a house a home faster than a faithful four-legged friend! They’re always happy to see us, even if they do shed their hair all over the furniture. Pets are part of the family, after all. A home in Magnitogorsk or Kislowodsk, Russia. Photo: presumably J.C.H. Niegeman. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, J.C.H. Niegeman, NIEG, ph146

It’s hard to imagine people living here – it looks more like a temple dedicated to hunting than a home. A place to keep your (misbegotten) trophies, but not to relax in. J.W. Hanrath. Olaersduyn hunting lodge, Rockanje, 1910. Photographer unknown. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, HANR f5

You can’t tell from the photo, but this interior is an octagonal space in a water tower. You could literally walk it in a circle. The view must be wonderful, but sadly we don’t see it. Perhaps whoever lives here doesn’t notice it anymore. Watermill on the Gein in Abcoude. Photographer unknown. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, Goed Wonen foundation archive, SGWO f37-3

Does the lack of wall cabinets make this kitchen look cluttered or cosy? In any case, a lot of beautiful wood detailing adds character. Notice the ‘extractor hood’, which seems to be more decorative than practical. Kitchen. Photo: Ab Koers. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, Goed Wonen foundation archive, SGWO f65-155

Is this a photo of a house, or a photo of a child reading? A person who seems unaware of the photographer is unusual in photos of interiors. In architectural photos, people often look self-conscious, but not in this case. E. Jelles. The Schepers’ holiday home, Smalle Ee, 1967. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, JELL 529-03

Now that it’s finally summer, we can all look forward to evenings out with friends or family – whether that means an al fresco meal, a drink and a chat, or just chilling in the park, on the balcony or, like here, in your own backyard. Brinkman and Van der Vlugt. Sonneveld House garden. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, SONN. Loan B.I.H.S foundation.

This attractive workspace takes full advantage of the beautiful light streaming in and exudes creativity. On the table stands a typewriter with a kind of cardboard Santa and an egg box - which was perhaps the inspiration for the beautifully frayed corners of the brick walls. J. Verhoeven. House in Hoevelaken, 1975. Photographer unknown. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, VERH, f8-2

Sometimes, people perfectly match their interior. The resident’s elegant openwork gown is just as refined as the lace tablecloth, the decorative wallpaper and the tiling around the fireplace. Her look tells us that she belongs here. F. A. Warners. Country house, Heerlen, 1912. Photographer unknown. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, WARS, n75-04.

Few things in a home are as enjoyable as sunlight streaming in through the windows and shining through lightly fluttering curtains as a gentle breeze wafts through the house. The only thing missing is the aroma of a fresh cup of coffee. Brinkman and Van der Vlugt. Sonneveld House. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, SONN .. Loan B.I.H.S. foundation