On-site Dutch archival research
Our office in Amsterdam offers a great starting point for historical archive research in the Netherlands. Thanks to our central location, many important Dutch (national) archives are practically on our doorstep. Archives in Amsterdam are easily reached by bike, and important national archives in The Hague are reachable by car or train in under an hour. Whether it’s Holland genealogy or the Dutch in World War 2 you’re interested in, a genealogist from Dutch Family Roots can help you deepen your research by diving into the collections of several important Dutch archives.
Efficient historical archive research in the Netherlands
There are many places to start Dutch archival research. Below, we’ll highlight some of the most important archives in the Netherlands that we frequent in our ancestry research.
Holland genealogy in the National Archive and Royal Library
Both the National Archive and the Royal Library in The Hague are an invaluable resource for archival research. The National Archive is an extensive archive housing 142 kilometres (or 88 miles) of archival material on the history of the Netherlands. It also has a photographic archive comprising 15 million historical photographs. An important part of the collection is the Central Archives of Special Justice (CABR). These contain information on Dutch individuals in World War 2 who were suspected of collaborating with or having connections to the German occupier.
The Royal Library (KB) is the national library of the Netherlands. It is situated practically next door to the National Archive and has an enormous collection of books, journals and newspapers. All books ever published in the Netherlands are housed in the Royal Library – including the ones written by the founder of Dutch Family Roots.
Ancestry research services in the City Archive of Amsterdam
Amsterdam plays an important role in the history of the Netherlands. Chances are, when you hire a Dutch genealogist, you’ll find out that your ancestors stepped foot in the city at one point or another. The City Archive of Amsterdam contains data on former residents of the city, as well as information about emigration from Amsterdam to other parts of the world. The archive has collected 750 years of documents, data, images and stories. Incidentally, it is just around the corner from our office, making it a convenient resource for our research services.
NIOD: the Netherlands in WW2
Like the City Archive of Amsterdam, the Dutch Institute for War, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies (NIOD) is a convenient cycling distance away from our office. This institute is an incredibly important resource for finding out more about the Dutch in World War 2, with around 2.500 meters (or 8.200 feet) of archival material, 75.000 books and an extensive image database of the Netherlands in WW2. When researching the history of your family in the Netherlands during WW2, this important archive is always our starting point.
Efficient regional Dutch archival research
While a regional archive like the North-Holland Archive in Haarlem (containing data and images on the province of North-Holland) is a stone’s throw from Amsterdam, local archives in other parts of the country are less easily reached. That’s where our extensive network comes in. As a member of a large association of independent Dutch historians, we have connections all throughout the Netherlands. Should your query require on-site research in more remote parts of the country, we will call upon our experienced colleagues to provide us with the necessary research and data for our ancestry research services.
Hire a Dutch genealogist for a digital screening
Before you decide to hire a Dutch genealogist for on-site historical archive research in the Netherlands, we recommend our Digital Screening or Digital Check. This is a 10 hour online research service where we conduct research in digital inventories, archives and institutes from all over the Netherlands. Afterwards, we will provide with a detailed report containing scans and links to relevant information. The Digital Screening and Check form the perfect basis for our on-site archival research.
“One of my specializations is the Second World War in the Netherlands and former Dutch Indies. It's amazing how much information there is about Dutch family members in this period.”
Rogier Overman, founder of Dutch Family Roots
