Cultural institutions

The memory of Belgium, with more than 70 km of archives and thousands of stories about the people and the institutions.

The Archives Générales du Royaume (AGR) (National Archives of Belgium) have stood in the heart of Brussels for more than 175 years. They house the central departments of the State Archives and, above all, more than 70 kilometres of archives, including documents from 30 to 1000 years old! The AGR ensure the proper preservation of archive documents produced by the central institutions of the national then federal government from the Middle Ages to the present-day. In addition, businesses, politicians and individuals who have played an important role in society also entrust their archives to the AGR. The institution assumes responsibility for managing all these archives and for giving the public easy access to them.

Documents can be consulted in the Reading Room, which is open to everyone: researchers, genealogists, students, history buffs, notary publics, officials, etc.
At the AGR, past and future complement each other. Because, in order to preserve a very rich historic heritage, the institution digitizes the documents on parchment and paper. Priority is given to the more frequently consulted ones: the old parish registers and the registers of births, marriages and deaths. The digitized documents are available to readers in each of the 18 archive depositories in Belgium, including the AGR.

The National Archives of Belgium contain thousands of institutional and private histories: you’re bound to find a part of your own there!

Rue de Ruysbroeck / Ruisbroeckstraat 2
1000 Bruxelles / Brussel

T: +32(0)2 513 76 80
archives.generales@arch.be
algemeen.rijksarchief@arch.be
www.arch.be

Reading room is open on:
Tue> Fri 08.30>18.00 h
Sat 09.00>12.30 / 13.00>16.00 h
July> August: Tue>Fri 08.30>12.00 / 13.00>18.00 h

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