Archief Gent
- Ghent Archives
- Stadsarchief Gent
- SAG
- City Archive Ghent
Address
Phone
History
Since 2005, Stadsarcheologie Gent and Stadsarchief Gent have been housed together in De Zwarte Doos at Dulle-Grietlaan 12 in Gentbrugge, in the restored buildings of the former Puntfabriek. After several years of functioning as 1 joint service, this changed in 2017: Stadsarchief Gent was merged with Archief OCMW Gent to form Archief Gent. Stadsarcheologie was then merged again with the Dienst Monumentenzorg.
In the spring of 2005, the first stone of the OCMW's new archive building was unveiled. This building is located on Neermeerskaai between blocks C and D of the Prince Philip campus, between Jubileumlaan and Offerlaan. On 16 October 2006, the relocation of the archive department to the new building began. On 1 December, the building was inaugurated and Archives OCMW Gent moved in.
Since 1 January 2017, Stadsarchief Gent and Archief OCMW Gent have been transformed into 1 service: Ghent Archives. This joint service was originally located at the 2 locations mentioned above: Neermeerskaai 1B and Dulle-Grietlaan 12.
On 3 December 2018, the merger was completed and the entire service was housed in De Zwarte Doos, at Dulle-Grietlaan in Gentbrugge.
The former OCMW building on Neermeerskaai was not completely abandoned and still belongs to Ghent Archives. It is no longer accessible to the public and since December 2018, the Ghent Archives team has taken up residence here.
Archival and Other Holdings
The core of the Ghent Archives’ collection consists of the government archive of the City of Ghent from the Middle Ages to today. It includes the Old Archive, which holds documentation dating back to the Ancien Régime (until 1795), and the Modern Archive, which covers the French period (1795-1815), the Dutch period (1815-1830) and the Kingdom of Belgium (since 1830). The archives of parishes from the period before the municipality mergers in 1965 and 1977 were largely transferred to the Ghent Archives. Besides the local government archives, the Ghent Archives also preserve private archives of individuals, families, organisations or businesses who have a strong bond with Gent.
In addition to written records the Ghent Archives also preserve important photographic archives and historical image collections, consisting of photographs, films, postcards, prints, porcelain cards, posters, drawings and paintings.
Finding Aids, Guides, and Publication
The Modern Archive in the Ghent Archives is briefly described in the publication History on parchment (1988), p. 65-78.
An up to date overview of the private collections held by the Ghent Archives can be found on the website http://www.archiefbank.be/
Opening Times
Monday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Conditions of Access
In the reading room of Ghent Archives, researchers can consult the items from the archives, collections and libraries, either the original (if the storage condition allows) or a copy (microfilm, digital photo or scan). The reading room is equipped with various inventories and computers. The Ghent Archive is accessible to everyone free of charge. Visitors only need to register by filling in a registration form.
The reading room regulations can be found here
Reproduction Services
Information on services provided by Ghent Archives and their fees can be found here: https://stad.gent/nl/reglementen/retributie-voor-diensten-verstrekt-de-zwarte-doos
Sources
Ghent Archives website consulted on 18/07/2019 and 16/05/2022
Pierre-Alain Tallier (dir.), Gertjan Desmet & Pascale Falek-Alhadeff, Sources pour l'histoire des populations juives et du judaïsme en Belgique/Bronnen voor de geschiedenis van de Joden en het Jodendom in België, 19de-21ste eeuw, Brussel, ARA-AGR/Avant-Propos, 2016, 1,328 p.