This research will address the influence of postcolonialism within the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, an archaeological museums. Postcolonialism is a frequently discussed topic in...Show moreThis research will address the influence of postcolonialism within the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, an archaeological museums. Postcolonialism is a frequently discussed topic in museology, however, the discussed museums are mainly ethnological. In this thesis I have explored different aspects of the National Museum of Antiquities on the basis of year reports and other archival material, and interviews. The permanent presentation, the temporary exhibitions, the field research, the collecting policies and the public attitude of the museum all seem to have made certain postcolonial changes. The strongest change made lies in the museum’s attitude towards its public. The National Museum of Antiquities is connecting past societies to the people of the present by making its collection open to visitors from different ages, nationalities and backgrounds. In doing so, the museum globalizes towards the public.Show less