The Hague City Archives

The Hague City Archives (Haags Gemeentearchief) is responsible for an enormous range of documents, photographs, prints, maps, films and books about The Hague starting from the beginning of the 14th century. In addition, the archives work together with the municipal archives of Leidschendam-Voorburg and the Netherlands Music Institute.

The Hague City Archives is the city’s treasure trove and memory. It is the documentation and information centre for the history of The Hague and the city’s inhabitants.

For everybody

The archives maintain 16.5 kilometres of historical materials stored in strong rooms, available to anyone with an interest in the city’s past. It holds approximately 2,200 archives on people, companies, families and foundations and clubs. Not only on the history of The Hague, but also on Voorburg, Leidschendam, Loosduinen, Stompwijk and Veur. The Netherlands Music Institute is the national repository for music resource materials, including a collection of music manuscripts dating from 1500 to the present day.

Family history and the city through the centuries

People conducting research on genealogy or on the city through the centuries can do a search online on the website of the Haags Gemeentearchief. Or they can visit the reading room (studiezaal) from  Tuesday to Friday in the Atrium of The Hague City Hall. Professional staff can assist you in your research and in consulting the original materials as well as digital collections and microfiches.

• Address, opening hours and rules for the reading room (in Dutch)
• Opening hours Netherlands Music Institute (NMI)

Exhibitions, lectures and events

The Hague City Archives also shares stories about the history of the city and its inhabitants in other ways:

• exhibitions in De Galerij in the tram tunnel in the Spui station and in the Atrium of City Hall

• lectures , courses, tours

• lessons for primary and secondary schools

• different activities in Historical Information Points (HIPs), such as workshops and exhibitions

• events, such as the History of The Hague Day

Donate archive materials

Each year The Hague City Archives receives dozens of donations of historical documents. Old photos, letters, family papers and company archives, often kept in the family for generations, become part of the city’s collective memory. Would you also like to offer or transfer ownership of documents or collections to The Hague City Archives? Read how to do this on the website of the Haags Gemeentearchief.