The Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica

The Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica brings together manuscripts and printed works in the field of the Hermetic tradition, more specifically the ‘Christian-Hermetic’ tradition. The term ‘Christian-Hermetic’ serves as a reminder that the Hermetic works were commented on and/or absorbed in the Christian context, initially in the works of the Church Fathers, notably Augustine and Lactantius. After a long spell of neglect, the Hermetic treatises now known as the Corpus Hermeticum were re-discovered in the Renaissance when philosophers like Marsilio Ficino and Giovanni Pico della Mirandola sought to harmonise (Neo)platonism, Pythagoreanism, and other philosophies regarded as part of a prisca theologia, with the prevailing Christian heritage.

Following the ‘ad fontes’ principle, the library tries to collect the oldest instances of works which fall within its sphere of interest, that is to say: manuscripts or first and early editions, without, however, ignoring subsequent written and printed sources. To date, the library holds more than 20,000 volumes: ca. 600 manuscripts (some 70 of which date before 1550), ca. 5,000 books printed before 1800 (some 300 of which are incunables, books printed before 1500) and ca. 15,000 books (primary and secondary sources) printed after 1800.

The Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica is a private library located in the heart of the Jordaan. The library was founded by the Dutch businessman Joost R. Ritman, who decided to make his collection part of the public domain in 1984. Ritman spent so much money acquiring the books and a large collection of art that he got into financial problems. The bank intervened and the art collection was sold. Disregarding the status of "protected National heritage," an important part of the books was taken over by the ING bank and brought to the vaults of a London auctioneer. The sale of Ritman’s company brought in enough money that all the books were returned to Ritman. A third of the library was later bought by the Dutch state.

Opening hours

Monday – Friday 9:30 AM – 12:30 AM and 1:30 PM – 5 PM

Visiting Address

Bloemstraat 13-19, entrance at Bloemstraat 15.
Telephone: Tel. 00-31-20-6258079 / 6259096
Fax: 00-31-20-6200973
E-mail: bph@ritmanlibrary.nl

Closed at: 1st January, 30th April, Easter Monday, Whitsun, the week between Christmas and New Year