KB Koninklijke Bibliotheek, National Library of the Netherlands

Overview

The KB, National Library of the Netherlands (Dutch: Koninklijke Bibliotheek, or KB) is the national library of the Netherlands, headquartered in The Hague. Founded in 1798, it is one of Europe's oldest national libraries and is responsible for collecting, cataloguing, storing, and making available the entire printed and digital heritage of the Netherlands.

History and Founding

The initiative to found a national library was proposed on 17 August 1798, and the library was officially established on 8 November 1798, based on the confiscated book collection of Stadtholder William V. King Louis Bonaparte designated it 'Koninklijke' (Royal) in the early 19th century. King William I confirmed the name 'Koninklijke Bibliotheek' by royal decree in 1815. The KB moved to its current modern building next to The Hague Central Station in 1982. In 2020 the institution was rebranded as 'KB, national library.'

Collections and Holdings

The KB's physical repository in The Hague holds over 120 kilometres of written heritage, covering some 7 million items including books, newspapers, magazines, maps, and manuscripts spanning medieval times to modern publications. Its digital e-Depot contains approximately 40 million digital newspapers, books, magazines, e-books, and archived websites. Since 1974, the KB has collected one copy of every publication issued in the Netherlands. Notable digital platforms include Delpher (over 100 million digitized newspaper and periodical pages), the Digital Library for Dutch Literature (DBNL), and the Memory of the Netherlands image archive.

Journalism and Media Collections

The KB holds one of the most extensive Dutch newspaper archives in the world. Through Delpher, millions of historical newspaper pages are freely searchable online, dating back to the 17th century. Magazine and periodical collections are similarly comprehensive.

Access and Usage

Any person aged 16 or older may obtain a membership pass. The KB reading rooms are open six days a week. Much of the collection is accessible digitally through the KB's online platforms. The institution also coordinates the national network of public libraries under the 2015 Public Library Facilities Act.