IMIS

The collection of the Natural History Museum Rotterdam is, compared to other Dutch Natural History Museums, of medium size and holds many hundreds of thousands of specimens. An exact count is hardly possible. The figures below relate to lots (individual specimens in most groups to samples including many individuals in others such as molluscs and foraminifers). A sample of molluscs f.i. may hold a large number of specimens collected on the same day at the same location. The size of particular parts of the collection also varies strongly: several thousands of Foraminifers are stored in a small cabinet, as the skeleton of a sperm whale fills an entire hall. Only a minor part of the collection (< 5%) is on exhibit in the permanent expositions 'wereldNatuur' and 'Het van Deinse Kabinet' or can be found in the public galleries of the Museum. The majority of the material contains data on specific name, finder, location and collecting date. These are important criteria when samples are stored in a scientific collection. It enables specialists to use the collection for further research regarding taxonomy, anatomy or biogeography.