This collection comprises 953 pamphlets published between 1567 and 1852, primarily in Dutch with some in English, French, German and Latin. Its greatest strength lies in the seventeenth century, known as the ‘golden century’ of Dutch history—821 of the pamphlets were published during this period, with many dating from 1670 to 1700.

Topics covered include political, diplomatic, military and legal matters relating to the Eighty Years War (1568–1648), the formation of the Dutch Republic in 1581, and events such as the siege of Leiden (1573–74). Figures such as Prince William of Orange, Prince Maurice of Nassau, the Duke of Parma, and the Duke of Alba feature prominently. Other subjects include:

• Official documents: decrees, letters, treaties, memorials, and court decisions
• The First (1652–54) and Third (1672–74) Anglo-Dutch Wars
• The careers and fates of Grand Pensionaries Johan de Witt and Gaspar Fagel
• The 1672 murder of the De Witt brothers
• Admirals Maarten Tromp and Michiel de Ruyter
• English affairs under Cromwell and the Stuarts, including the Glorious Revolution and the ascension of William III
• Dutch foreign relations, trade, public finance, and colonial interests
• The rise of the Patriots in the 1780s
• Religion and the Protestant churches in the Netherlands
• The Dutch East India Company and the Dutch Royal Family

This smaller group of 145 pamphlets was published during the Batavian Republic, established in 1795 by the Patriots with French support. These government documents focus on areas such as:

• Taxation and public finance
• Trade and customs regulations
• Education and school policy
• Civic rights and public assembly
• Military and conscription matters
• The national loan office and financial reforms

This collection is titled Publicaties, notificaties etc. van het uitvoorend bewind der Bataafsche Republiek.

Two collections of Dutch pamphlets were purchased in 1966 from the antiquarian bookseller Martinus Nijhoff of The Hague.

Both collections of Dutch pamphlets are kept in the Rare Books collection. The 1567-1852 collection is housed in 31 large boxes. The pamphlets are filed chronologically in the order of the catalogue of pamphlets in the Koninklijke Bibliotheek in The Hague, compiled by WPC Knuttel in 1889-1920. 

The Batavian Republic pamphlets are individually catalogued and housed in 4 boxes. 

This guide was prepared using these references:

• WPC Knuttel, Catalogus van de pamfletten-verzameling berustende in de Koninklijke Bibliotheek, 9 vols, s’Gravenhage, Algemeene Landsdrukkerij, 1889-1920 [Reprint: Utrecht, HES Publishers, 1978]
• Simon Schama, Patriots and liberators: revolution in the Netherlands 1780-1813, New York, Knopf, 1977