Research in the archives

If you’re looking for information on your ancestors or on special aspects of the history of Leeuwarden and Leeuwarderadeel, there are several ways to do your research.

First of all, have a good look around at this website. Apart from information on the HCL, you will also find a lot of information on the sources we have in our repositories. Especially, check the Research and Education pages. The texts you’ll find there, you can easily print. If you want to visit the Historisch Centrum Leeuwarden, please check Visitor information for some background information and tips.

Elsewhere on the internet, you’ll find more interesting data on Leeuwarden. For general genealogical information and information on heraldry you may want to get in touch with the Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie. Finally, the former State Archives in Friesland, the Provincial Library, as well as the Frisian Literary Museum and Documentation Centre (since 2002 in one organisation: Tresoar), the Frisian Museum, the Fryske Akademy and the Fries Scheepvaartmuseum can be of value.

You can send a request for information or photocopies by letter, fax or e-mail to the HCL. Within three weeks, the research results will be sent to your home address. See for information on the fees here. Questions of a general nature, that will take no research time, will be answered for free.
By phone, we can only give you some general information.