Stronger together: towards one regional archive
Local councils on Voorne-Putten and Goeree-Overflakkee now up for grabs
Council members from Goeree-Overflakkee, Nissewaard and Voorne aan Zee met Wednesday, September 3, at Droogdok Hellevoetsluis. They were updated on the proposed accession of Goeree-Overflakkee to the Streekarchief Voorne-Putten.
A step in which the parties involved see many advantages: practical, financial and for service provision. More importantly, by joining forces the regional archives can better preserve the past and make it accessible to everyone.
During the meeting, Alderman Petra 't Hoen (Goeree-Overflakkee) brought an old Map . "A piece of the past to usher in the future," as she put it. A striking image: the islands of South Holland have traditionally had a strong bond. A bond formed by the water that both separates and connects us. Her conclusion: there are historically good reasons to seek each other out.
Aldermen Petra 't Hoen (Goeree-Overflakkee), Els Priester and Igor BalVoorne aan Zee) then entered into discussions with the council members about the proposed cooperation. Topics included housing, personnel and finances. But above all the shared mission: an archive that is more than just a repository. The Regional Archive is the memory of the region. It stores stories and documents that tell us as a region where we come from. They also tell us how we have always lived with the water and how that has shaped us.
In a panel of questions, the administrators explained the benefits of cooperation. Think of being stronger together, speeding up digitization and making archives accessible to residents. Practical advantages, such as shared costs and joint accommodation on the Kickersbloem in Hellevoetsluis, were also discussed. Also discussed was the process toward January 1, 2026.
Deputy regional archivist Bob Benschop also gave a presentation from his role as archivist. He showed what the archives mean and how, despite the current locations no longer being adequate, a lot of work is done to keep the records well preserved and accessible to all.
In the coming period, the municipal councils will give their views on joining. The goal is for Goeree-Overflakkee to officially join on January 1, 2026. In this way, the municipalities are working together on a future-proof regional archive. A place where the regional memory is safely preserved. Where residents can discover their history. And where together as a region we can pass on our pride in our past to future generations.