The invention relates to a specimen holder (10) for retaining specimens (9) for microscopic examination, which holder comprises two bars (3a, 3b) displaceable in opposite directions that are equipped on their mutually facing sides (7) with at least one respective recess (4a), in order to retain a specimen (9) by at least partial contact of those recesses against an outer edge of the specimen (9). It is proposed that the sides (7) of both bars (3, 3a, 3b) facing away from one another also be equipped with at least one respective recess (4b), so as thereby to increase the number of possibilities for specimen retention when both sides (7) of the bar (3a, 3b) are used by transposing the bars or by inserting them after a 180-degree rotation. It is further proposed to retain the bars (3a, 3b) magnetically on the specimen holder (10) so that the bars can easily be disassembled and reinserted following rotation.