Regional archives join forces in Regional Historical Center
The Goeree-Overflakkee Regional Archives will merge with the Voorne-Putten Regional Archives on January 1, 2026. From that moment on, both archive services will continue under the name Regional Historical Center Voorne-Putten Goeree-Overflakkee (RHC).
On Thursday, December 18, the municipal council of Voorne aan Zee accession to the joint arrangement. The municipal councils of Nissewaard and Goeree-Overflakkee had already given their approval earlier. This marks an important administrative milestone for the three participating municipalities.
The aldermen involved are positive about this step. "By joining forces, we can create a professional, robust, and future-proof archiving service. Digitization can be tackled more quickly and efficiently, costs can be reduced, and services to residents, researchers, and institutions will improve. In addition, archives—including vulnerable ones—will be preserved better and more sustainably for the future.
For the time being, the archives of Voorne-Putten and Goeree-Overflakkee will remain accessible at their current locations. The physical merger will take place once the new building has been completed. In the short term, therefore, little will change for visitors. The new location of the Regional Archives will be Kickersbloem 3 in Hellevoetsluis.
Collaboration
Nationwide, there is a clear trend toward greater cooperation between archive services. This is necessary due to increasing legislation and regulations, rising costs, and the need to respond adequately to further digitization. Cooperation offers significant advantages, such as better knowledge sharing, more effective use of specialist expertise, and lower costs through shared accommodation and facilities.
Knowledge Center
In the coming years, the RHC aims to develop into a regional knowledge center. The new location will have modern facilities that meet current archival requirements and offer better amenities for visitors. By focusing on digitization, more and more archival documents are becoming accessible online at a faster rate.