KB, the national library of the Netherlands

The KB is the National Library of the Netherlands. We bring research, reading, discovery and lifelong learning within reach of everyone in the Netherlands. At home and in the library, online and offline. Since our foundation in 1798, our aim has been to collect as many publications as possible, that were written in or about the Netherlands. From medieval manuscripts to newspapers, and from Donald Duck magazine to historical and present-day novels.

Our repository in The Hague stores over 120 kilometres of written heritage. Increasingly more of our collection is now digital. Our e-Depot contains some 40 million digital newspapers, books, magazines, e-books and websites. We also help researchers to find digital sources and datasets. Together with the public libraries, we are committed to promoting reading, digital inclusion and lifelong development. We also host services such as the Online Library, Delpher and DBNL (the Digital Library for Dutch Literature).

A smarter, more skilled and more creative Netherlands

The KB, the national library of the Netherlands, has been a source of inspiration and development for centuries. Since our foundation in 1798, we have developed into a broad, versatile organisation, that makes the National Library collection visible, usable and sustainable for all Dutch people, for any purpose, both now and in the future. We care for the written word, especially the Dutch publications, and enable everyone to read, learn and do research. This is how we contribute to a smarter, more skilled and more creative Netherlands.

Our vision

We approach changes and developments actively and with optimism. Our 3 guiding principles are:

• Value to society is central: as a publicly financed organisation, the contribution we can make to society is paramount to us. To this end, we constantly monitor the progress and success of all our activities.
• Digital at the forefront: in order to effectively fulfil our role in the information society, we are increasingly learning throughout the organisation to think and work primarily digitally.
• Thinking in networks: our social role in the information society also includes thinking in networks. We are joining forces with users and partners to ensure continued progress.

Our values

The core values that we share are: open, unifying, innovative and reliable. We shape our mission based on these core values and are active in our networks.

KB gender equality plan

The KB is in the centre of society and bears a remarkable responsibility in fostering societal norms such as equity, inclusion and diversity. Gender equality forms an essential part of this. With this gender equality plan, we emphasise our dedication to create a work environment in which everyone, regardless of gender identity or expression, gets equal opportunities, feels safe and can develop to the fullest.