Pease note: requested publications will be delivered from our stacks on three fixed moments per day.
Monday to Friday
| Requests before 08:30 hours: | available from 10:00 hours |
| Requests before 11.30 hours: | available from 13.00 hours |
| Requests before 14.30 hours: | available from 16.00 hours |
| Requests after 14.30 hours: | available the next working day from 10.00 hours. Please note: Materials requested on Fridays after 14.30 hours will be available the following Monday from 10.00 hours. |
Saturday
| Our depots are closed on Saturdays. The lending counters are open, so it is possible to pick up publications requested before Friday 14.30 hours. |
'From requesting to returning'
Requests and reservations
A valid KB annual library pass enables you to request and borrow publications. A number of categories may not be borrowed and may only be viewed. The KB library pass is strictly personal; books may not be lent to third parties.
Publications that have already been borrowed may be reserved; you will be notified by us when the publication is available. Reservations for publications that may only be viewed will not be accepted.
You may request and reserve publications online through KB catalogue. The standard loan period is 31 days. Publications that you have requested will be kept for you for a week at the general issue desk in the reading room. You may borrow a maximum of 19 publications eligible for loan at the same time. In addition, you may view 19 publications that are "view only".
If the publication you are looking for is not held by the KB you may request it from another library.
Pick up
You may pick up your books during the opening hours. Requested books will be kept for you for 1 week. Dispatch of publications costs € 6,50 per volume.
Renewing publications and cancelling reservations
You may renew publications and cancel reservations online.
You may renew a borrowed publication by 31 days a maximum of 10 times. If a publication has been reserved you will be notified that the publication in question cannot be renewed. After the 10th renewal we will request that you return the publication. Should you wish to keep the publication longer, you may borrow it again once our staff member has inspected the general condition of the publication.
Publications which may only be viewed and which you therefore cannot take with you will be kept for a week for you at the general issue desk. After that you may renew the loan period repeatedly by periods of one week (do not forget to communicate this renewal to us through the desk, by telephone or email, otherwise your book will be returned to the stacks and you will need to request it again).
Returning publications
Borrowed publications must be returned on the last day of the loan period at the latest, or be sent back, sturdily packed, by mail. Any risk of damage or loss in the case of returns by mail are the responsibility of the borrower. On request, you may receive a proof of delivery.
Fines and damages
If you exceed your loan period you will receive a reminder. If you do not respond to this in a timely manner then your library pass will be invalidated and you will be liable to pay a fine. Should you still not respond, further measures will follow. These are listed in Article 4.4. of the Regulations for the Use of the KB(Dutch only)
Reading Room Special Collections
Special rules apply with respect to access to and requests from the Special Collections Department.
10 advantages of a KB annual library pass
The purchase of a KB library pass increases your options considerably.
Request materials yourself online from other libraries
An IBL account enables you to request publications yourself from other libraries.
Wireless network in the KB
The wireless network of the KB is open to all visitors with a KB-pass. It is available in the reading rooms on the 1st and 2nd floor of the library.
KB Digital
The KB focusses on digitisation of important collections. Read more for an overview of projects.