LEIDEN.- The exhibition ‘Discovering Ancient Egypt’ at the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden (the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities) has been extended until 3 May 2026 due to strong public demand. Following a successful international tour that drew more than 1.5 million visitors, the exhibition continues to draw enthusiastic audiences in the Netherlands. Visitors now have an extra seven weeks to explore ‘Discovering Ancient Egypt’, an immersive display of hundreds of objects from the museum’s celebrated collection. Highlights include beautifully painted coffins and statues, exquisite jewellery, papyrus fragments and animal mummies, complemented by key loans from Dutch and international museums. Together, these extraordinary objects bring the life, religion and culture of ancient Egypt vividly to life, enriched by the latest discoveries and research. The museum is open daily from 10.00 to 17.00, with late opening on Thursdays from 19.00 to 22.00.

Old world, new stories

Discovering Ancient Egypt is not about the major, world-famous finds by renowned explorers, but instead about the countless smaller discoveries by contemporary researchers from fields such as archaeology, conservation and the natural sciences. From geomagnetic studies in the desert to meticulous archival work, their work constantly offers new insights. This is explained by specialists in short films in the exhibition.

A sense of wonder

Thousands of years ago, the Egyptians already viewed the culture of their predecessors with reverence and wonder. Beginning with these ancient Egyptian admirers, the exhibition then takes visitors past Arab scholars in the Middle Ages, via adventurers and collectors in the 19th century, to the researchers working today. Visitors will see one of the oldest maps of Egypt, extremely rare Arabic manuscripts amongst which early Islamic hieroglyphic studies. Garments, drawings and watercolours by 19th-century travellers such as Alexine Tinne and Willem de Famars Testas give a personal perspective on the appeal of ancient Egypt for Europe. One eye-catcher is the collection of golden burial gifts from the grave of General Djehuti, from the collections of the Louvre and the RMO. The pieces have now been reunited for the first time since their discovery 200 years ago.

Discovering Ancient Egypt then turns to the ancient Egyptians themselves. The exhibition sheds light on their surroundings, ideas, daily lives and beliefs with objects from their personal lives. Visitors can admire luxurious jewellery and amulets, musical instruments, woven reed sandals, and a game box with a formula wishing its owner good luck. There is also a special collection of animal mummies. Using X-rays and CT scans, they have been studied down to the very last detail. A short film highlights one of the most remarkable findings: the large crocodile mummy proved to contain not one but two young crocodiles, as well as dozens of baby crocodiles.

Visitors then enter the Egyptian realm of the dead, featuring memorial statues, papyrus sheets with magical texts and painted coffins. These were recently studied and restored. Scientific research, infrared photography and UV photography have revealed how they were made and which pigments were used to create the vibrant colours.