Europeana APIs, made easy.

Europeana APIs give access to rich cultural heritage data from thousands of institutions across Europe—ready to power your workflows.

Request an API key

To request an API key, you’ll need a free Europeana account. This gives you a central place to view/manage your API keys, and gives Europeana a stable contact for support and sharing important updates.

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Europeana APIs and how they work together

Europeana’s APIs allow you to search for cultural heritage items and their metadata in the Europeana collections, directly access this data, display them in IIIF viewers, and more. To use one of the APIs, request a free API key, and then read the documentation on how you can use it. See the full list of all of Europeana’s API’s here.

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Search API

The Search API provides a way to search for metadata records and media in the Europeana collections.

Read more (öffnet sich in einem neuen Fenster)
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Record API

The Record API lets you retrieve detailed information about individual items available in Europeana.

Read more (öffnet sich in einem neuen Fenster)
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IIIF APIs

The IIIF APIs provide access to structured metadata about objects, and offer ways to visualise 2D objects in an interoperable viewer.

Read more (öffnet sich in einem neuen Fenster)

Get started

If you want to learn how to use APIs for your own project, join our instructor-led training courses on getting started with Europeana APIs. These courses have been running since March 2024 and you can sign up using the link below. Ready to use one of our APIs for your own project? Request an API key at the top of this page.

Register for the Europeana APIs online course (öffnet sich in einem neuen Fenster)

Try it out

We’ve set up a fully fledged front-end demo using codepen which contains the code to search the Search API.

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Find inspiration

Not sure how to use our APIs for your project? Check out these examples of creative projects using our APIs.

a screenshot of the front page of the Craft Atlas, showcasing a map with different markers which the user can interact with to learn about craft techniques

Craft Atlas

The Craft Atlas is an open-access platform for exploring craft knowledge, techniques and makers. By integrating Europeana’s collections through the Europeana APIs, the platform connects craft techniques with historical objects, images and cultural heritage records.

Go to the Craft Atlas (öffnet sich in einem neuen Fenster)
A screenshot of the homepage of Tunepal which features a large record button the user can use to record a tune and search matching archival recording

Tunepal

Tunepal is a melody-based search platform for traditional music. By integrating Europeana’s collections through the Europeana APIs, it connects folk tunes with related cultural heritage, helping users discover historical recordings, musical manuscripts and archival resources.

Go to Tunepal (öffnet sich in einem neuen Fenster)
a screenshot of a virtual gallery within the Artetra platform, showcasing multiple Europeana artworks on the walls

Artetra

Artetra transforms Europeana’s digital collections into immersive virtual exhibitions. Using Europeana’s APIs, users can search for cultural heritage objects, import individual items or entire Europeana galleries, and curate them within interactive 3D gallery spaces.

Go to Artetra (öffnet sich in einem neuen Fenster)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Read in more detail about how you can get access to Europeana’s APIs, what APIs Europeana has, and how to properly use the data you get from Europeana’s APIs for your own project.

Go to the Europeana API FAQ (öffnet sich in einem neuen Fenster)