Nederlands Instituut voor Oorlogs Documentatie (Netherlands Institute for War Documentation)

Nederlands Instituut voor Oorlogs Documentatie (Netherlands Institute for War Documentation) Review

Established in 1945, this institute has collected vast archives of documents, newspapers, 100,000 photos, and 50,000 books relating to the occupation of World War II. This is where Otto Frank donated his daughter's diary. More recently, the institute has expanded its sights to take in the period between World War I to present day, with particular emphasis on the former colony of Indonesia. It also houses the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Its collections are increasingly being digitized and available online. Although the reading room is not really designed for the merely curious, you will be welcomed if you want to pursue academic or family-related research; requests must be submitted in writing. The French Renaissance-style exterior was inspired by Chateau Chenonceau in the Loire.