Every year since 1977 International Museum Day is organised on May 18; a global celebration to raise awareness on how important museums are in the development of society.

This year’s theme is Museum and Memory. “Museums preserve memories and tell stories. They have in their collections numerous objects that are fundamental to the memory of the communities we live in. These objects are the expression of our natural and cultural heritage. Many of them are fragile, some endangered, and they all need special care and conservation,” according to the organisers.

Historisch Museum JoCas, a virtual historical museum that offers information about UNESCO World Heritage in 151 countries, is the only museum in the Netherlands in the official programme.

International Museum Day is organised by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) while 30.000 museums in more than 100 countries have participated these recent years.