After a short summary of the origin and history of the Central Research Laboratory for Objects of Art and Science (CRL), Amsterdam, the general concept of cultural objects as material documents of history, art, and science is set out. The approach to study, conservation, and restoration of the objects should therefore be interdisciplinary. Art historians, conservators, and scientists all contribute from their own discipline to the general understanding and evaluation of the meaning, the history, the condition, and the conservation of the object. But during their study, each of them should take into account aspects of the object (or problem) covered by other disciplines. In the CRL, the way of dealing with a specific request regarding the conservation and examination of an object is as follows: when the problem is not known a limited investigation is carried out to define the problem or to solve it. After defining the problem, a search is conducted of the literature and the knowledge within the institutions in the Netherlands. If necessary, contacts with institutions abroad are made. Eventually, a research project may be started in the CRL if it is feasible within its means. The CRL has a library specialized in the field of conservation and restoration and wishes to be a center of information for those interested. Information is also propagated through short courses, thematic conferences, and publications. Any small institution such as the CRL is strongly dependent on cooperation with other institutions, in working groups and projects. The laboratory has only a small budget for externally commissioned research.