We present the first deep, optical, wide-field imaging survey of the young open cluster Collinder 359, complemented by near-infrared follow-up observations. This study is part of a large programme aimed at examining the dependence of the mass function on environment and time. We have surveyed 1.6 square degrees in the cluster, in the I and z filters, with the CFH12K camera on the Canada-France-Hawaii 3.6-m telescope down to completeness and detection limits in both filters of 22.0 and 24.0 mag, respectively. Based on their location in the optical (I-z, I) colour-magnitude diagram, we have extracted new cluster member candidates in Collinder 359 spanning 1.3-0.03 M&sun;, assuming an age of 60 Myr and a distance of 450 pc for the cluster. We have used the 2MASS database as well as our own near-infrared photometry to examine the membership status of the optically-selected cluster candidates. Comparison of the location of the most massive members in Collinder 359 in a (B-V, V) diagram with theoretical isochrones suggests that Collinder 359 is older than α Per but younger than the Pleiades. We discuss the possible relationship between Collinder 359 and IC 4665 as both clusters harbour similar parameters, including proper motion, distance, and age.