Terms of service

Help with your research

The reading room staff are available if you need help viewing or finding specific archival documents.

Documents in the reading room

You can view a number of items directly in the reading room, such as reference works, small prints of photos of people and streets. You can also read microfiches relating to births, marriages, and deaths. We have special reading devices for that. You can make free scans of the microfiches.

Ordering digital reproductions

Many items are available for direct download via the website. If a higher quality file is necessary, or the previous scan is poor quality, you can request a new digital reproduction. Ordering digital reproductions can take up to ten working days. For urgent order, this is reduced to five working days.
For large quantities, we are happy to discuss this with you further.

How long do you have to wait for a response from the archive?

If you have sent an inquiry by email, you will receive a message the next business day that we have received your message.
If you send a letter, you will receive a message from us within five working days on receipt of the letter. We will deal with your question within three weeks. If the inquiry cannot be resolved within three weeks we will be in contact. 

Requests for correction of records

Sometimes the original document features a mistake, for example a letter is misplaced or a surname is spelt phonetically. We look at how the information is in the original deed. We cannot deviate from how the information is in the text provided. If the mistake is in the metadata we will rectify the data. 
You will not receive a response whether the data has been adjusted. The changes will be visible in 'Search by people' within three weeks.

Ordering copies of documentation

If you order copies at the reading room, you can pick them up the same day. This also applies to copies of construction drawings.
For large quantities, we are happy to discuss this with you further.

Availability by phone

The Rotterdam City Archives are directly accessible by phone during opening hours.
If an employee is absent, the employee or a colleague will call back no later than the next working day.