At the end of 2028, the KB National Library of the Netherlands' public building will temporarily relocate to the Berlagehuis in The Hague. The relocation is necessary to rebuild the National Library building at its current location near The Hague Central Station, where it will become a permanent part of the cultural heart of The Hague.
Temporary Housing
During the construction work on the new public building, the National Library will temporarily reside in the Berlagehuis in The Hague's Groenhovenstraat. In 2028, the Berlagehuis will be partially renovated so that the National Library can offer its visitors similar services to its current facilities. This includes the addition of a reading room, space for public programming, and a secure location where the collection can be viewed. By the time of the relocation, requested collection items will be delivered from the National Library's new book repository that is currently being built in Midden-Delfland.
Director General Wilma van Wezenbeek: “It's fantastic that we'll be able to welcome our visitors to such a beautiful and iconic building in The Hague from 2028. It's a bright and modern location that's easily accessible by public transport for our visitors and staff. We can confidently stay there for a few years until we return to a fully renovated, inspiring, and accessible public and office building.”
Cultural Hotspot
The National Library currently stores its collection in the public building at the Prins Willem-Alexanderhof. In 2017, the decision was made to separate the repository from the public library building. Construction began last year on the innovative new book repository in Midden-Delfland. This repository will be completed in 2027. Moving the collection will subsequently take two years, as the National Library holds 122 km of books, newspapers, magazines, and other collection items. These are all items that must be moved carefully. Once the entire collection has been relocated, the current building will be partially demolished and then extensively modernised. By 2033, the National Library aims to welcome its visitors to a cultural hot spot in the heart of the renovated central station area, with space for reading, learning, and research, but also to marvel, debate, and dialogue.
