archief

An archief is a collection of records preserved because of their long-term value as evidence, information, or cultural heritage. The term is used for both physical repositories of documents, photographs, maps, and other materials, and digital collections of electronic records. Archival practice is guided by the principles of provenance—maintaining the origin and context of materials—and respect for original order, which help researchers understand how records were created and used. In Dutch, archief refers to an archive and its repository.

Materials in an archief may include correspondence, administrative files, legal instruments, plans, multimedia items, and born-digital records. Archival repositories curate these items, arrange them for access, and describe them with finding aids and metadata. Common standards for description and access include ISAD(G), ISAAR(CPF), and metadata schemes such as Dublin Core or EAD.

Access to archives is typically governed by policies that balance public research interests with privacy, security, and copyright. Some materials are restricted or require permission to consult. Preservation work covers physical conservation and digital stewardship, including digitization, format migration, and robust storage systems to prevent data loss.

Institutions that hold archives include national and regional archives, universities, religious organizations, corporations, and private individuals. Archives serve researchers, public accountability, and cultural memory by providing evidence of governance, rights, and everyday life. In the digital age, archives increasingly rely on digital repositories and standards for long-term accessibility, ensuring that records remain usable despite technological change.