The Theatre Collection has been part of the Allard Pierson Museum since 2013, housing the heritage collections of the University of Amsterdam. This journey began in 1924 with the founding of the Toneelmuseum (Theatre Museum), which brought together several private collections.

The Theatre Collection has had a turbulent history, struggling to find a permanent home in a sector with scarce resources. Now that this heritage is part of the Allard Pierson, its future is secured, supported by multi-year funding from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science through the Cultural Basic Infrastructure (BIS) programme for the management, preservation, and accessibility of this collection and others.

The Allard Pierson owns internationally renowned collections in archaeology, gastronomy, book history, graphic design, cartography, Jewish culture, church history, and natural history, making it one of the most important heritage collections in Europe. It is the only place in the Netherlands where theatre-related data, documentation, and objects are structurally collected – from costumes to programme booklets, models to libretti, 78 rpm records to born-digital material. Such a possession creates obligations, and also makes the collection vulnerable. The Allard Pierson is a crucial repository for the performing arts: in addition to this theatre heritage, it houses a rich and diverse music collection that is also managed, preserved, and presented with the same level of care and expertise.