The Darkroom, The Netherlands Photo Museum, Rotterdam

The Darkroom is the first permanent display about Dutch photography history in the Netherlands. A space of 250 m² in the basement of the Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam has been transformed into a special darkroom. Some fifty development trays are basking in red light. A light wall opposite the entrance that contains a timeline looks like a large strip of negatives. In this modern and interactive darkroom the visitor discovers the development and history of Dutch photography through 22 short stories. By putting a white sheet in a development tray, like in an old darkroom, the visitor activates the stories, which are being told by photographers, friends, family members, connoisseurs. The stories have been made accessible for a wide audience, with secondary school children as main focus.