Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I address a question to the Netherlands Institute of Military History?

Answer:

You can put your question concerning military history to the NIMH by sending an e-mail to nimh@mindef.nl. Questions are dealt with in order of receipt. Please formulate your question as completely as possible. We would also like to know what information you already have and from which sources. If you prefer to send a letter or a fax, please use the following address or number:

Netherlands Institute of Military History
P.O. Box 90701
2501 LS The Hague
Netherlands
Fax: +31(0)70-3165851
Tel: +31 (0)70-3165836

• What kind of information does the Netherlands Institute of Military History have?

Answer: The Institute focuses on the history of the land, air and naval forces of the Netherlands. Attention is also given to operations of foreign troops on (former) Dutch territory. In terms of time, the Institute’s focus of attention covers the Early Modern and Contemporary Eras up to yesterday. The NIMH has an extensive collection of books, journals, documents, photographs and films. The NIMH is especially rich in material on the Second World War, the deployment in the Netherlands East Indies, the history of conscription since 1950 and of Dutch participation in peace support operations. See also the collections page.

• Can I visit the Netherlands Institute of Military History?

Answer:
If you wish to consult our collections, you are kindly requested to make an appointment by telephone, at the following number: +31(0)70-3162847. No material is lent out. The reading room is open Tuesday to Friday from 08.15 a.m. to 04.45 p.m. See the address page to find out where we are and how to get here. 

• How do I order books that were published by the NIMH?

Answer: Books published by the NIMH (or its predecessors) through the agency of commercial publishers can be purchased or ordered in the bookstore or via www.militaireboeken.nl. Books that have been published by the NIMH independently can be ordered from the Institute. See the list of publications for further details. Some publications are sold out. Under normal circumstances, these will not be reprinted. 

• How can the Netherlands Institute of Military History assist you with genealogical questions?

Answer:

Many people address the NIMH asking for information on persons as part of enquiries into their predecessors. The NIMH’s ability to answer questions of a genealogical nature, however, has its limits. The Institute only has service records of regular personnel of the Royal Netherlands Navy who were born between 1865 and 1908. For information on personnel of the Royal Netherlands Navy who were born after 1908 or personnel of the Royal Netherlands Army or Air Force who were born after 1900, you are better served by contacting the

Netherlands Ministry of Defence
BRIOP (Registration and Information on Ex-service Personnel Office)
P.O. Box  7000
6460 NC Kerkrade
Netherlands
Tel. +31(0)45 5469 999.  

For this, you must include the date of birth of the person you are looking for and enclose a copy of a proof of your identity. 

For enquiries into Royal Netherlands Army and Royal Netherlands Air Force personnel born before 1900, you should contact the National Archives. More information on this subject can be found on the genealogy page of this website.

• Where can I find historical photographs of and films about the armed forces?

Answer:

The Netherlands Institute of Military History has an extensive collection of visual material: a unique collection of photographs and films showing the ins and outs of the armed forces from the 19th century to the present. DVDs and photographs may be ordered via the photo order form or the DVD order form. See also the page on visual documentation on this website.

• Can I do a traineeship at the Netherlands Institute of Military History?

Answer:

Students following an academic history course or professional archive, library or documentation training can do an internship at the NIMH. Contact the NIMH for more information.

• Where do I find general information about the Defence organisation?

Answer:

For general questions, you can contact:

www.postbus51.nl

or dial: +31 800 8051

• Where should I go for general information about the Netherlands armed forces for a primary or secondary school paper?

Answer:

For general questions, you can contact

www.defensie.nl or www.postbus51.nl or dial +31(0)800-8051

• Is the NIMH interested in receiving photographs, personal documents and military historical documents as donations?

Answer:

The NIMH is the institute that does due justice to military historical documents and documentation. The NIMH puts its documentation collection in the service of research and publications and endeavours to make it accessible to a wide audience. The Institute is therefore greatly interested in personal military historical items such as photographs, diaries and (personal) documents. Thematic private documentation collections also have the Institute's interest. If you possess material that you think might be valuable to the NIMH, please contact the curator by e-mail or by telephone: +31(0)70-3165845.