National Archives faces petition against reduction of public duties

A petition against the cessation of public duties at the National Archives in The Hague has received over 13,600 signatures, with organizers aiming for 15,000. The proposed changes would see the institution focus exclusively on archiving and providing access to government information, while discontinuing public-facing activities such as exhibitions, publications, and historical research.

Critics, including Inholland University of Applied Sciences and the June 30-July 1 Committee, have called on the management and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science to reconsider. They argue that ending public tasks constitutes an attack on collective memory. The National Archives maintains that these decisions are necessary due to digitalization, limited financial resources, and the new Archives Act effective January 1, 2027. The institution also plans to stop taking over private archives from organizations such as the Red Cross and KNVB.