UNESCO World Heritage

The UBL holds seven collections recognised by UNESCO as documents of universal value and exceptional significance to the world. Six are included in UNESCO's International World Heritage list of documents or Memory of the World Register, one in the Dutch UNESCO register.

The Kartini Letters and Archive: the struggle for gender equality (2025)

The letters and archives of Indonesian women’s rights advocate Kartini stand as a testament to her fight against gender inequality in feudal Javanese society, including forced marriages, polygamy, and the lack of education for women. See video.

Digital Collections: Kartini Letters (KITLV)

Recognised in the Memory of the World register: 2025
In collaboration with the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia and the National Archives of the Netherlands.

Hikayat Aceh manuscripts (2023)

A seventeenth-century history of the sultanate of Atjeh and the rule of Sultan Iskandar Muda (1583-1636), a national hero in Indonesia. The history unfolds against the backdrop of a globalizing world, with Chinese, Portugese and Ottoman-Turkish relations and influences.

Digital Collections: Or. 1954
Digital Collections: Or. 1983

Recognised in the Memory of the World register: 2023
In collaboration with the National Library of Indonesia.

Ferdinandi Oliveri de Sancta Columba: Viagem de Fernao de Magalhaes (2023)

Manuscript containing an account of the first voyage around the globe by Ferdinand Magellan, as told by Fernão de Oliveira.

Digital Collections: VLF 41

Recognised in the Memory of the World register: 2023
In collaboration with Portugal en Spain.

Panji-manuscripts (2017)

A set of Javanese stories about the mythical prince Panji, which serves as a source of literature, dance, shadow puppetry (Wajang), and painting in the Malay world and Southeast Asia.

Digital Collections

Recognised in the Memory of the World register: 2017
In collaboration with the National Libraries of Indonesia, Malaysia en Cambodia.

Babad Diponegoro (2013)

An autobiographical chronicle of Prince Diponegoro (1785-1855). As the leader of the rebellion against colonial rule of the Netherlands during the Java War (1825-1830), Diponegoro became a national hero of Indonesia.

Digital Collections: D H 589 a

Recognised in the Memory of the World register: 2013
In collaboration with the National Library of Indonesia.

La Galigo (2011)

An epic poem in Buginese containing a mythical account of the origins of humanity. It is also the longest epic poem in the world.

Digital Collections: NBG-Boeg 188

Recognised in the Memory of the World register: 2011
In collaboration with the Museum La Galigo, Makassar (Indonesia)

Dutch UNESCO Memory of the World register

The Dutch Memory of the World Register, which was launched on 1 November 2022, exists alongside the international UNESCO Memory of the World Register. It holds documentary heritage with a specific importance for the Netherlands.

De Ondergedoken Camera (2025)

A photography collection from a Dutch resistance group during the Second World War, documenting the effects of the German occupation in Amsterdam.

Digital Collections

Recognised in the Dutch Memory of the World register: 2025
In collabroation with: Maria Austria Institute, Netherlands Photo Museum, Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Radboud University.