How to consult newspapers

The newspapers on microfilm are directly accessible. You also have access to the general works, dictionaries, bibliographies and indices in the Reading Room. We advise making a reservation if you would like to consult the digitised newspapers.

Newspapers are particularly fragile. Please only consult them on the tables set up specifically for that purpose and treat and browse the volumes of newspapers with the utmost care.

If you want to consult any of the bound newspapers (collections J.B and J.E.), please fill in a request form in the Reading Room. Newspapers that are still published today are only available bound in volumes about three months after their publication.

Requests are issued at regular times:

• 10 a.m.
• 12 noon
• 3 p.m.

Please hand in your request at least 30 minutes in advance. We do not issue any requests on Saturday.

You may submit a request for a maximum of two volumes at once, and consult as many as five volumes in the Reading Room.

You can only consult items from the special collections Gaston Mertens and Vandermaelen under supervision of a staff member.

How to reserve bound newspapers
You can order as many as two volumes in advance by calling +32 (0)2 519 55 44 or sending an email to newspapers@kbr.be. The newspapers you requested will be available in the Reading Room for eight days. Please ask the staff if you would like more time to consult the newspapers.

How to search for a newspaper in the catalogues

There are various ways of searching in the Royal Library’s newspaper collections:

• Using the online catalogue
• For defunct newspapers: in the alphabetical, topographical and chronological catalogues on cards (to be consulted in the Library)
• On microfilm (almost 600 Belgian newspaper titles): using the “Mic Perm Catalogue of microfilms” (to be consulted in the reading room)
• Via BelgicaPress

Copies and reproductions

You may take digital photographs of newspapers if they are intended for personal use. However, you may not use a flash or a handheld document scanner. You will need to fill in a special form that is available from the tables.

You can request photocopies or reproductions of original papers with the reproduction order form.

Read more about the collection