In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century Dutch diplomats, scholars, and travelers assembled unique collections in Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina. With the invaluable help of local Muslims, Dutch collectors tried to capture the essence of what they regarded as an authentic Oriental culture in a period when Arabia was already looking towards modernity.

These extensive collections allow a glimpse into a colorful and vibrant society, one virtually vanished today under ever-growing numbers of pilgrims, changing political and religious allegiances and sudden economic prosperity.