Orakel: Een walvis op het strand – fotografie van Karlijn van Diepen

Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Exhibition

What is the beached whale here to tell us? When artist Karlijn van Diepen sees a whale lying on the beach, she decides to investigate the relationship humans have with the animal. With her camera, she embarks on a journey across seas, past beaches and mountains in search of the answer.

Throughout history, the whale has carried many meanings: from a source of livelihood to a mythical creature, from a character in novels and the Bible to an icon of nature conservation. Today, it is even seen as an ally in the fight against climate change. Time and again, our view of the whale changes – and with it, our relationship with nature.

A whale on the beach confronts us with the vulnerability of both animal and human. In film and photography, Van Diepen brings together details of skin, hair, bones, stones, water, and seaweed. The images are an attempt to get closer to the animal and restore a lost connection with nature.

Oracle is a reflection on our need to connect with nature, while simultaneously trying to understand, control, and bend it to our will.

The beached whale invites us to listen to the world of which we are all a part.

'Oracle: A Whale on the Beach' can be seen from 5 November 2026 to 7 February 2027.

All dates

Datum	Tijd	Locatie	CalendarLink
November 2026
Do 5 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Vr 6 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Za 7 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Zo 8 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Ma 9 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Di 10 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Wo 11 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Do 12 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Vr 13 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Za 14 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Zo 15 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Ma 16 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Di 17 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Wo 18 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Do 19 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Vr 20 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Za 21 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Zo 22 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Ma 23 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Di 24 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Wo 25 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Do 26 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Vr 27 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Za 28 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Zo 29 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Ma 30 nov		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
December 2026
Datum	Tijd	Locatie	CalendarLink
Di 1 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Wo 2 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Do 3 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Vr 4 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Za 5 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Zo 6 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Ma 7 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Di 8 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Wo 9 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Do 10 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Vr 11 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Za 12 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Zo 13 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Ma 14 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Di 15 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Wo 16 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Do 17 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Vr 18 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Za 19 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Zo 20 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Ma 21 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Di 22 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Wo 23 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Do 24 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Vr 25 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Za 26 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Zo 27 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Ma 28 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Di 29 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Wo 30 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Do 31 dec		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
January 2027
Datum	Tijd	Locatie	CalendarLink
Vr 1 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Za 2 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Zo 3 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Ma 4 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Di 5 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Wo 6 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Do 7 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Vr 8 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Za 9 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Zo 10 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Ma 11 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Di 12 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Wo 13 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Do 14 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Vr 15 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Za 16 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Zo 17 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Ma 18 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Di 19 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Wo 20 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Do 21 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Vr 22 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Za 23 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Zo 24 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Ma 25 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Di 26 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Wo 27 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Do 28 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Vr 29 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Za 30 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Zo 31 jan		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
February 2027
Datum	Tijd	Locatie	CalendarLink
Ma 1 feb		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Di 2 feb		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Wo 3 feb		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Do 4 feb		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Vr 5 feb		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Za 6 feb		Natural History Museum Rotterdam
Zo 7 feb		Natural History Museum Rotterdam