Sections and collections

FINDING AIDS

Political correspondence (1830-1934)

Belgian diplomatic and consular correspondence, arranged by country and chronologically. Approximately 900 bound volumes and unbound supplementary files. They contain the manuscripts of general political correspondence with Belgian legations and consulates abroad, from 1830 to 1934.

Consult this collection (PDF, 2.33 MB)
 

Political finding aid: specific files relating to bilateral and multilateral relations since 1830 as well as political correspondence and general series since 1934

Documents inventoried according to a continuous numbering system and listed by thematic and geographical files. We find:

• General files concerning the internal political life of states and their economic situation (files compiled by the administrative services, whose responsibilities are divided according to geographical criteria).
• Specific files relating to bilateral and multilateral relations in which Belgium has played and continues to play a role, in many aspects (visits by foreign dignitaries, protocol files, the problem of political refugees, wars, major conferences, border issues, etc.).
• Files compiled according to the evolution of European and international organizations (UN, EU, NATO, etc.);
• Some personal papers including S. Van De Weyer, Baron Lambermont, de Bassompierre, R. Rothschild, ...

Consult this collection (PDF, 7.16 MB)
 

"Political-Economic" Collection (1824-2003)

• Files dealing with the development of Belgium's internal and foreign trade (statistics, trade agreements, treaty negotiations to promote Belgian economic interests abroad, Belgian emigration, colonisation, loans and Belgian establishments abroad, etc.); to these were added documents relating to transport issues (river, sea, rail and air navigation - the General Directorate of the Navy was under the Foreign Affairs until 1873).
• The Ministry's archives also contain numerous files relating to various Belgian public limited companies (coporations), mainly from the nineteenth to the early twentieth centuries, including the foundation of S.A. Cockerill...

Consult this collection (PDF, 7.91 MB)
 

"Africa" Collection (1832-1968)

Files reflecting the Ministry’s view on the African continent, including the Congo Free State and colonial problems before its creation, the Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi as well as the international colonial problems, individual files of the other African colonies. Not to be confused with "African" archives (colonial archives).

Consult this collection (PDF, 2.25 MB)
 

Collection "H.C.I.T.R." And "C.R." (1919-1932)

Files relating to the Inter-Allied Rhineland High Commission (Haute Commission interalliée des territoires rhénans) and Reparation Commission (Commission des réparations) created in 1919 as part of the Treaty of Versailles to supervise the occupation of the Rhineland by France, England, Belgium and the United States.

Consult this collection (PDF, 2.82 MB)
 

"Treaty of Versailles" collection (1919-1922)

Files relating to the Belgian delegation to the Treaty of Versailles.

Consult this collection (PDF, 449.49 KB)
 

"Press" collection (1890-1993)

Collections of press clippings on specific themes including major world events, Belgian diplomacy, the royal family, etc.

Consult this collection (PDF, 1.28 MB)
 

"Official Publications" Collection

Chronological series of Royal and Ministerial Decrees concerning the FPS Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.
 

"Staff and Consulates" Collection

Due to privacy laws, these finding aids are not publicly disclosed. Motivated requests for consultation must be addressed to info.archives@diplobel.fed.be

• Career files of diplomats and administrative staff at headquarters or posted abroad, including staff of the former Colonial Affaires (MINAF).
• Files relating to the administrative development of Belgian embassies, legations, consulates and honorary consulates abroad.