Python for Collection Data
Do more with the data in your collection management system
What could you do with your collection data if you could use a little Python yourself?
On Thursday 22 October 2026 we are organising Python for Collection Data at Het Scheepvaartmuseum in Amsterdam: a free, hands-on workshop for technical collection managers, data cleaners, application managers and anyone else who enjoys tinkering with collection data.
In most cases, you don't need to export your collection data first. From Python, you can search and work with data in Adlib, Axiell Collections and Collection Manager directly. That way your collection management system remains the source, while you use Python for analyses and edits for which the system itself doesn't always offer the right tools.
Practical information
- Date
- Thursday 22 October 2026
- Time
- 10:00 - 16:30
- Location
- Het Scheepvaartmuseum, Amsterdam
- Participants
- Maximum of 30
- Costs
- Free
- Bring
- Your own laptop
Who is it for?
For anyone who regularly works with collection data and is curious about what more they could do with it themselves.
No Python experience?
No problem. This is explicitly not a traditional programming course. We don't start with variables, functions and programming theory, but with a collection management system and a question for the collection. We learn the Python we need along the way. Some technical affinity is helpful.
Please note: the workshop will be held in Dutch.
Programme
Thursday 22 October 2026 · Het Scheepvaartmuseum, Amsterdam
- 10:00 - 10:20
- Welcome: why Python for collection data? Python as a tool alongside the collection management system, and DDLib as the link between Python and the collection.
- 10:20 - 11:00
- Your first search from Python Connecting, searching with the search language you already know and using fields from the records found.
- 11:00 - 11:15
- Break
- 11:15 - 12:15
- Exploring and checking collection data Missing and deviating values, field usage, possible duplicates: Python as a tool for quality control.
- 12:15 - 13:00
- Lunch
- 13:00 - 14:00
- Changing collection data Normalising, converting and controlled bulk edits, with a focus on working safely and verifiably.
- 14:00 - 14:45
- Python as glue between tools Exchanging data with CSV, OpenRefine, JSON, Excel and web APIs.
- 14:45 - 15:00
- Break
- 15:00 - 15:45
- Working on your own data question Bring a small dataset or a concrete question from your own practice; together we'll solve a few of them.
- 15:45 - 16:20
- From data to insight: visualising with Python Bar charts, histograms of datings, collection growth and find spots on a map.
- 16:20 - 16:30
- Wrap-up Looking back and how to continue on your own. The examples and scripts used will be made available.
What to bring?
Your own laptop. Beforehand we'll send a short instruction for installing and testing the required software.
If you like, you can also bring a small dataset or a concrete data question of your own. Of course, only use data that may be taken along and processed under the rules of your own organisation.
What can you do after this day?
After one workshop day you won't be a Python programmer, and that isn't the goal. You will have used Python yourself to search a collection management system directly, analyse and check data, perform edits and visualise the results.
If you go home thinking "hey, I can do this myself from now on", the workshop has succeeded.
With special thanks to:
Het Scheepvaartmuseum, for providing the venue.
Kattenburgerplein 1,
1018 KK Amsterdam
hetscheepvaartmuseum.nl