In the Netherlands, archives provide their already digitized records available online for free. But several archives go a step further, and also allow you to request documents to be scanned free of charge.
These archives have allocated budget for digitizing their collection. Part of this budget is used for larger projects, and another part is used for scanning-on-demand where the users determine the order in which the records get digitized. The resulting scans are attached to the finding aids and are then available for everyone, including the person who requested the scans.
List of archives that have free scanning on demand
The following archives use Archieven.nl for their finding aids. Select the finding aid you’re interested in and then find the call number you want digitized. Then click the last icon “Scannen op verzoek” [Scanning on demand]. 
- Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum [Provincial archives of Noord-Brabant and regional archives for municipalities around ‘s-Hertogenbosch].
- Gelders Archief [Provincial archives of Gelderland and Arnhem City Archives].
- Haags Gemeentearchief [The Hague City Archives].
- Het Utrechts Archief [Provincial and City archives of Utrecht].
- Noord-Hollands Archief [Provincial archives of Noord-Holland and City Archives of Haarlem].
- Regionaal Archief Rivierenland [Regional Archives Rivierenland, in West-Gelderland]
- Zeeuws Archief [Provincial archives of Zeeland and Middelburg City Archives].
- Stadsarchief Rotterdam [Rotterdam City Archives]
- Collectie Overijssel [Collection Overijssel]
The following archives use the system by supplier Picturae. Go to the finding aids and click “Scan(s) aanvragen” after the item of interest.
- Archief Alkmaar [Alkmaar Archives, some record groups].
- Erfgoed Zutphen [Zutphen Heritage Center].
- Regionaal Archief Tilburg [Regional Archives Tilburg; some record groups].
- Stadsarchief Amsterdam [Amsterdam City Archives].
- West-Brabants Archief [West Brabant Archives]
The following archives will scan for you for free if you email them the record group (toegang) and call number (inventarisnummer):
- Gemeentearchief Barneveld [Barneveld municipal archives]
- Gemeentearchief Ede [Ede municipal archives]
- Regionaal Historisch Centrum Eindhoven [Regional Historical Center Eindhoven]
- Stadsarchief Breda [Breda City Archives].
Note: some other archives offer scanning-on-demand for a fee, sometimes using the same icon at Archieven.nl. You can just try clicking the icon to see if you are asked for payment or not.
Do you know of other archives that provide free scans on demand that are not on this list? Please let me know in the comments.
Man operating a printing press. Credits: Willem van de Pol, collection Nationaal Archief (Public Domain)
How to know which call number to order
Most of the archival descriptions are in Dutch, so it can be difficult to know what call number to order. You can use a browser like Google Chrome to translate the page for you.
Some of the more popular records have been indexed, for example in the People section at Archieven.nl. In cases where the scan is not included with the index, you should be able to click through to the source in the finding aid, where you may be able to click the Scanning-on-demand icon.
Restrictions on scanning on demand
All archives have restrictions on scanning on demand. Common restrictions are:
- Only public records.
- Only records more than 100 years old, to protect the privacy of living people.
- Only well-preserved records that don’t need conservation before digitization.
- Only whole call numbers, no specific records/pages.
- Limited number of requests per user, for example 1 per week, 5 per month, or 4 simultaneous requests.
As you can imagine, this is a popular service, so waiting times can be several weeks to months. Some archives provide a paid express service if you don’t have the time to wait for the free version.
People waiting for a sale to start. Credits: Hugo van Gelderen, collection Nationaal Archief (Public Domain)
About Yvette Hoitink
I think this is just wonderful! The FamilySearch has a lot of vital records of Amsterdam. Unfortunately, for some reason, they do not have the volume 5 of the Book of births of 1868. For a sad coincidence this was exactly the volume which my great-great grandmother’s birth record is. But I became so happy when I saw the option to ask that volume to be scanned. I asked it and some weeks after they made it. Now I got that birth record! Excellent service!
Wonderful success story, thanks for sharing!
Great resource. Thank you!
The link for Gelders Archief does not work.
Bij het RHCEindhoven doen ze het ook als je er om vraagt