Scanning on demand
Would you like a document from the archive to be published on the website as a scan? Read how to request this for free on this page.
In the description of many archival records, you will see a "Scanning on demand" button. Using this button, you can request the scanning of up to three archive documents per day, free of charge. In principle, the scans will be published online within a month. You will receive an e-mail notification when the scans are published. Sometimes it takes a little longer, or a record cannot be digitised after all. In such cases, you will be notified as well.
Not all records qualify for this service. There may be various reasons why scans of a record cannot be made. You can find the most common reasons at the bottom of this page in the frequently asked question ‘Why can't you request scans of some records?’.
Note: If you want to have a large series of archive documents digitised, please contact us.
How to request scans
Scanning by demand is available only when a record has a "scanning by demand" icon. Would you like the record scanned, please take the follwoing three steps:
1. Click on the scanning by demand-icon.
2. Then click on 'Afronden' to finalise, or klik op 'Verder zoeken' if you would like to request more records (max. 3 records).
3. Enter your name and e-mail address, agree to the terms and conditions and click on 'Versturen’. You will receive an automatic acknowledgement.
Frequently asked questions
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There are several reasons why some archival document cannot be scanned.
The most frequent reasons are:The archival document is larger than A3
Our scanners cannot scan documents larger than A3. An alternative is a photograph made by our photographers. However, this takes time and is not a free service. Inquire via the contact form.
The archival record is not public
Whether a archival record is public or not, has been regulated by law. For example, due to Dutch Privacy Laws or "Algemene Verordening Gegevensbescherming", due to the Dutch Copyright Act or "Auteurswet", or due to notarial practice. Documents which are not public by law, cannot be published online.
The archive or archival record is younger than 100 years
Archival documents can contain personal data. The City archives cannot publish personal data of living persons, due to Dutch Privacy Laws. We cannot check every record beforehand. Therefore, these archives or archival records have been excluded from this service.
The archival document is in poor condition
If an archival document is damaged, it needs to be restored. This can take a while. Untill the restoration has been completed, the archival document cannot be requested for Scanning on demand.
Charters (with or without a seal)
Charters often contain a seal. These are fragile and request a special approach to digitisation. Therefore they cannot be requested with this service.
Photographs, films and printed works
Many photographs, films and printed works involve copyright. It takes too much time to check each document for copyright. Therefore, the city archive does not scan such materials free of charge. Visual material that is already digital and has no copyright can be found and downloaded via our search system.
Private archives
Stadsarchief Rotterdam has many archives on loan from companies, churches, families and other parties. They own their own archives. Therefore, you cannot request digital versions of those archives. These archives can be identified on the website by the attribute “private”.
Archives of other municipalities
A number of municipalities in the region have transferred their archives to Stadsarchief Rotterdam. In doing so, they retain ownership of their archives themselves. Digitisation on demand is not currently available for these archives.
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At the moment there are 300 archival records with a request-button. Primaraly, these are the oldest archives of the City of Rotterdam and former municipalities which have been annexed by Rotterdam.
Archives of municipal institutions more than 100 years old, such as the fire brigade and the postmaster, can also be requested.
Finally, there are donated archives of families and companies whose scans can also be ordered.