Center for Netherlandish Art Library

The spines of several old Dutch and Flemish books that sit on a shelf.
The spines of several old Dutch and Flemish books that sit on a shelf.

The Center for Netherlandish Art Library brings together the renowned collection of publications assembled by the late art historian Egbert Haverkamp-Begemann and other related resources on Dutch and Flemish art created between 1400 and 1800 from the MFA’s William Morris Hunt Memorial Library. With more than 43,000 volumes—including rare books, early auction catalogues, dissertations, and recent monographs—the CNA Library is a major resource for scholars and researchers from around the world.

Hours

By appointment
Thursday and Friday, 10 am–Noon and 1–4 pm
Except major holidays

Visiting

The CNA Library is open to scholars, students, and other members of the public. It is located on Level G, the ground floor of the MFA. The Library’s stacks are closed for browsing and its collection is non-circulating; books can be taken from the shelves upon request, and all Library materials and equipment are available for use in the reading room. The Library’s holdings are reflected in the Fenway Libraries Online (FLO) catalog.

Visitors must schedule an appointment in advance of their visit. To make an appointment, e-mail CNA@mfa.org and include “Library Appointment” in the subject line. Please provide as much of the following information as possible so we can assist you as best we can:

  • Name
  • Institutional affiliation, if any
  • Research topic or subject area of interest
  • Book call numbers, titles, and authors, if you have specific books you would like to look at
  • Preferred time you are looking to come in
    • The CNA Library is open Thursdays and Fridays from 10 am to noon and 1 to 4 pm

The CNA Library reading room is available to registered visitors on a first-come, first-served basis. Same-day requests are not guaranteed; visitors are encouraged to make appointments at least two business days in advance of their anticipated visit. When making an appointment, please specify particular books and subject areas of interest so materials can be set aside in preparation for your visit.