Discover the 20th century

Explore collections and stories from 20th century history and culture

Exhibitions

Exhibition

Groundbreaking 20th-century inventions in transport, industry, media and everyday life

Exhibition

Explore different family concepts and discourses, looking back at the 20th century

A J-story virtual exhibit on Jewish Women in the Century of Change

Videos and Podcasts

Stories to feast your eyes and ears on

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Listen to a podcast on the stories of Nobel Prize winners throughout the 20th Century

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A Vlog Series with Luca Missoni - Europeana XX Ambassador of Change

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The rise of consumerism in the 20th century

In this final episode of Story Flix, take a sneak peek into the history of fashion in the 20th Century

Blogs

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Explore the archive of Titus Brandsma, a Dutch Catholic martyr who was an influential priest and professor

Discover the collaboration between EFHA and the Fashion Design department at the Università di Firenze

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Tracing the term ghetto through history across several centuries - from the Jewish ghetto of Venice to 'ghetto fabulous'

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The so-called father of nuclear chemistry and godfather of nuclear fission.

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Meet Heisenberg: a quantum mechanics pioneer and an icon of 20th-century science history

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The animation studio that created the cartoons Polish kids grew up on

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The dissolution of the Jewish communities of the Arab world is commemorated on November 30.

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Exploring stories and oral histories relating to Irish emigration in the 20th century

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The 20th century car: from luxury and commodity to icon

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Exploring the Olympic Games that never happened

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Recordings, reports and more relating to migration, found on Europeana

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British, Dutch and German counterculture movements of the 1960s were much more than just being against the mainstream

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Suits for women, designed by women: questioning the status quo through fashion

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Activist, feminist, politician and Holocaust survivor, whose life reflects high and low points of the 20th century

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Investigating examples of how social changes of the 20th century have been reflected on pellicule.

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The emergence of the teenager in mid-20th-century Europe

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Remembering Bravery within Tragedy

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The flapper style of the 20s is associated was an expression of a women's new-found freedom and style in fashion.

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LGBTQ+ in 20th-century photography and film.

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Women in early 20th-century photography, film and advertising.

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Polish Jewish migrant Tuschinski established several cinemas in the Netherlands, particularly in Amsterdam and Rotterdam

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For Jews around the world, the beginning of autumn is also the time of the Jewish New Year, or Rosh Hashanna in Hebrew

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For most of us, the Eurovision Song Contest is a show we tune into once a year. But the Contest is much more than that.

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How changes in aviation policies introduced art to the airport

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The importance of the journey as an integral part of travel rose significantly in the 20th Century.

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From the very start of the 20th century, nutrition was considered as essential to well-being as physical exercise.

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Spas and wellness resorts in the 20th Century

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‘wellness’ as it’s been known since the 1950s – has been at the pinnacle of human aspirations for many centuries.

Galleries

Every one of these inventions represents a remarkable venture into creative thinking by their inventor.

Explore this atmospheric set of travel pictures, postcards and videos, exuding the styles and flavors of the seventies.

Offering large assortments, self-service and discount prices, American-style supermarkets took post-war Europe by storm.

Electrification is considered to be one of the most important technological innovations of the 20th century.

These products' design doesn't always convey their function. Can you guess what they were for?

DKW or 'Das Kleine Wunder' was a German brand of motorized vehicles that took the market by storm in the 1920s.

Our food habits thoroughly changed in the 20th century: snacking has become ubiquitous, with endless options.

A distinctive pallet, imaginative perspectives and clever compositions: the ads of Norwegian photographer Leif Ørnelund

Gallery

Founded in Moscow, the Habima theatre company dreamed of a Jewish cultural renaissance through Hebrew.

Gallery

In the 70s and 80s, power suits became a way for women to establish their authority in a male-dominated world.

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This gallery celebrates outstanding accomplishments in Chemistry, Physics, Medicine, Literature and Peace.

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Ground Control's job is to make sure we reach our destination safe and sound

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These vintage classrooms paint a vivid picture of what school days used to be like.

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Summertime is the perfect season for camping out

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On the 2nd of October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, we celebrate the International day of Non-violence.

Gallery

These artful posters from around the world advertise beautiful travels and destinations.

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Today’s airport is so much more than a doorway to the world.

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Space traveling is cutting-edge science but can also be serious fun

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luxury luggage, first-class fashions, and stylish accessories

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A global youth movement founded in 1908

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Since the early 20th century, caravans have been a holiday home away from home

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Discover gamechangers in the history of medicine, a tribute to healthcare workers keeping us safe and healthy every day.

Family Matters

This exhibition explores how the 20th century changed family life

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Families are the fundamental group unit of society. But who decides what constitutes a family?

Exhibition

Never were people’s lives so heavily impacted as during the two World Wars, which was deadlier than any other conflict.

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Coined in the 1920s, the term ‘nuclear family’ refers to a compact family unit of two adults and their children.

Exhibition

Explore the full Family Matters exhibition

Browse through 20th century collections

The 20th century chronicle of German press photographer Günter Ackermann

Flip through the Norwegian interior design magazine Bonytt, giving you a glimpse into the homes of the 20th Century

Topic

Geared up for war!

advertisements showing stereotypes and consumerism in post-war Germany.

Organisation

Archives of the Italian luxury fashion house Missoni.

An 8-part Polish documentary series on World War II.

A collection of footage on the Spanish Civil War from Filmoteca de Catalunya.

Fashionable shades from throughout the 20th century.

Videos all about airplanes and flying.

Stills and excerpts from Polish children animation shows.

Discover the artisan cooperative that pioneered modern design and influenced the Bauhaus and Art Deco

These visuals show both iconic and mysterious stories from the press covering life in the cosmos.

In this video gallery, craftsmen and -women from Germany and Central Europe show their outstanding skills.

A video gallery of content exploring customs from Central Europe, from TIB.

A video gallery depicting beekeeping and beekeepers from throughout the 20th Century

the American Embassy in Oslo (Norway), dated 1959, is an architectural gem designed by Finnish modernist Eero Saarinen.

Clothing styles from the 1950s

People

Still-lifes by advertising photographer Karl-Erik Granath, scenes which capture the essence of their time

Person

Don Emilio Pucci, Marchese di Barsento: a 20th-century fashion icon

Vlogging circa 1900: Julius Neubronner's home videos.

The glamourous portraits of Austrian star photographer Dora Kallmus.

Watch short movies of Belgian director Charles Dekeukeleire.

Learn more about the Polish film director Kieślowski.