What do we collect?

The Rotterdam City Archives preserves and collects the history of Rotterdam. And makes it accessable and visible. Via the reading room or our website visitors can access more than 700 years of history about the city and region. The collection includes hundredthousand prints, photographs, films, cards, audio recordings, books, magazines, articles and more than twenty kilometers of paper records.

Together, these documents tell a story, the history of Rotterdam. Perhaps your story too?

Archive repository for different authorities

The Rotterdam City Archives saves the archives of the municipality Rotterdam, Lansingerland, Albrandswaard, Ridderkerk and Barendrecht. And of several public institutions: DCMR, recreation boards and the regional water authorities like the Waterschap Hollandse Delta.

Private Archives

In addition to government archives, the City Archives also acquires and manages archives from private sources, such as Rotterdam-based cultural organisations, businesses, religious institutions, political groups, sports clubs, private individuals and families, as well as archives of societies and associations. These private archives originate from Rotterdam or the surrounding region, or have a connection to it.