Until 1980, the City Library was a repository of universal knowledge and cultural output without geographical or linguistic limitations. Thanks to five centuries of collecting, the Heritage Library is first and foremost a general cultural library with rich international collections reflecting the cultural life, history and intellectual traditions of historical Europe.
In the last two centuries, librarians have consistently paid close attention to the systematic collection of publications relating to the cultural and general history of the Low Countries from prehistoric times to the present day, with an emphasis on the Southern Netherlands.
In the late twentieth century, choices were permanently defined, and attention was focused on the Low Countries and contemporary Flanders, with particular emphasis on the Flemish movement. Publications in these fields continue to be collected actively right up to the present day.
Cultural history covers a broad area based around specific cultural expressions such as the visual arts, music, literature, theatre, film and architecture. It includes both the tangible heritage and the intangible heritage (such as festivals, stories, rituals and traditions) and both ‘high-brow’ and ‘low-brow’ culture. Impressive collections have also been assembled in legal, ecclesiastical and religious history and the main philosophical traditions.
The Heritage Library’s collection of art books includes historical surveys, monographs on specific artists and exhibition and auction catalogues.
Books on art in Antwerp are well represented. One important part of the art collection consists of publications with original illustrations by Flemish artists, often in the form of collector’s editions.