Stadsarchief Amsterdam

  • Amsterdam City Archives
  • Gemeentearchief Amsterdam

Address

Vijzelstraat 32
Amsterdam
North Holland
1017 HL
Netherlands

Phone

+(31) (0)20 - 25 11 511
0900 - 1700

Email


Web

https://www.amsterdam.nl/stadsarchief/
https://archief.amsterdam/

History

The Bazel, the building the Amsterdam City Archives resides in, was the most important work of the Dutch architect Karel de Bazel and was built from 1919 to 1926 as the head office of the Netherlands Trading Society. Later, the Algemene Bank Nederland - one of the main predecessors of ABN AMRO - resided in the Bazel. In 1999 the city of Amsterdam bought the building and after a renovation the building was re-opened to house the Amsterdam City Archives on 7 August 2007.

Records Management and Collecting Policies

The Amsterdam City Archives attempts to mirror the diversity of the potentional range of archives and collections in Amsterdam. This has lead to a policy of acquiring that not only focuses on archives from municipal services, but also private archives and collections. In this case one should not only think of paper documents, but also digital files such as webistes, photos, and advertising materials.

Archival and Other Holdings

The City Archives holds 50 kilometers of archives, a historical topographic collection with millions of maps, drawings, and prints, a library and extensive sound, film and photo archives.

Finding Aids, Guides, and Publication

The majority of what the Amsterdam City Archives stores is described in the inventory including fully searchable descriptions. For further access to certain fully scanned archives one can consult the indexes in which mostly genealogical information is located.

Opening Times

The Amsterdam City Archives is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 5pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 5pm. Do keep in mind that the reading room and the reproduction room are closed during the weekends and on holidays. This means that on these days no original materials can be requested nor is it possible to print photos or any other materials.

Conditions of Access

Anyone who wants to do research in the archives and collections of the City Archives is welcome in the reading room. All books and records can be used for free. However, all books and records have to stay in the archival institution. Before you can access the reading room you need to register at the reception in the hall.

Accessibility

The Amsterdam City Archives is accessible by tram from Central Station: lines 16 and 24 to Keizersgracht. Do note that car parking in the center can be difficult and probably very time consuming.

Wheelchair users are requested to report to the bookstore entrance or to the café-restaurant. Scootmobile users can use the entrance at Herengracht 482.

Research Services

If you have any questions about how you should start your research or you believe to have hit a dead end, you can consult the staff at the Information Center for advice. Staff members also help you decipher difficult readable documents, although they do not have time to read very elaborate texts.

Reproduction Services

Most documents can be copied or digitally reproduced. Under certain conditions it is also allowed to make your own reproductions. All fees for reproduction services can be found here.

If you can help improve this information please contact us at feedback@ehri-project.eu.

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