BibliothecairErfgoed.be launches the Digital Heritage Library

With the launch of the Digital Heritage Library, BibliothecairErfgoed.be introduces a new online gateway to the bibliographic heritage of Flanders and Brussels. The platform brings together a wide range of sources, from medieval manuscripts and early printed books to newspapers and literary works from Dutch-language literature. For the first time, these collections are centrally accessible and searchable, making Flemish bibliographic heritage more visible and easier to discover for a broad audience.

The Ghent University Library is prominently represented in the Digital Heritage Library. Through the platform, the Boekentoren provides digital access to an impressive corpus: 585 manuscripts, including fragments, 7,254 early printed books, and no fewer than 3,162 newspaper titles. In addition, 77 (sub-)collection descriptions offer context and interpretation across the different collection areas, helping researchers, students and interested visitors to navigate the heritage collections with ease.

The launch of the Digital Heritage Library coincides with the online release of the new Heritage Gems website. This platform allows visitors to explore the most remarkable items from Flemish heritage collections. A total of 110 heritage gems have been selected from the rich collections of the Boekentoren. These highlights reflect the historical and scholarly significance of the university library, which has been one of the leading custodians of heritage collections in Flanders for decades.

Visitors can, for example, discover the Vita S. Amandi from the 9th century, fragments from the Acts of Paul—the oldest item featured on Heritage Gems—or gain insight into the work and thought of Hadewijch.

Thanks to the Digital Heritage Library, these collections are not only more visible, but also sustainably made accessible for research, education and a wide audience. The Boekentoren warmly welcomes this initiative and actively supports this collective step towards greater collaboration, openness and digital accessibility of bibliographic heritage in Flanders and Brussels.

About BibliothecairErfgoed.be

Since February 2026, the non-profit organisation Vlaamse Erfgoedbibliotheken has been renamed BibliothecairErfgoed.be. Ghent University Library is a founding member.