On 25 June 2026, the Catholic Documentation Centre (KDC) will celebrate the completion of the Bibliography of Catholic Dutch Periodicals (BKNP) with a book launch and an inspirational afternoon at Radboud University in Nijmegen.
Magazines as windows into history
Nowadays, anyone looking for film reviews, political analysis, the latest trends in education or advice on songbirds turns to social media, blogs, podcasts or YouTube videos. But that information is by nature fleeting. For depth and proven quality, we turn to newspapers and magazines.
At times when the number of subscribers has fallen dramatically, we tend to forget just how crucial magazines were to the sharing of information. Every magazine offers a unique insight into a particular theme or field of intrest, for both professionals and enthusiasts alike. Because newspapers and magazines change over time, they are a fantastic resource for historians looking to analyse developments within a particular field.
Research accessibility
Fifty years ago, the KDC recognised the great value of periodicals for Dutch history and the role of Catholics within it. However, oftentimes researchers found it difficult to identify the relevant sources from the 6,000 titles in the collection. The KDC therefore took the initiative to systematically catalogue and describe the Catholic periodicals in the Bibliography of Catholic Dutch Periodicals (BKNP).
With the publication of the fifth and final thematic volume, this extensive and complex undertaking has now been completed. This volume describes and analyses 586 titles covering the fields of politics, the middle classes and the trade union movement, the temperance movement, healthcare and charity. Together, they paint a kaleidoscopic picture of Catholic citizenship and the interconnections between these areas. The four previous volumes deal respectively with the Catholic daily and weekly press, culture and leisure, religious and church life, and education and upbringing. In total, the series comprises over 3,300 entries.
Festive book launch
The programme for the book launch offers an insight into the publishing culture of Catholics, the significance of the BKNP for digital platforms such as Delpher, the potential of digital applications, and the value of this work for biographical research. Above all, this celebratory gathering is a tribute to the perseverance of the many staff members involved and to the indispensable role of editor-in-chief Dr Otto S. Lankhorst.
