The Liberaal Archief holds at present over 2,300 periodicals. (An alphabetical survey of the collection is now available in the Dutch section of the site). The complete collections of the major Flemish liberal newspapers can be consulted.

  • Het Laatste Nieuws, 1888-present
  • De Nieuwe Gazet, 1897-present
  • La Flandre Libérale, 1874-1974
  • Het Volksbelang, 1867-present
  • De Vlaamsche Gazet, 1900-1914
In addition to national newspapers a collection of local liberal weekly papers is available. The Liberaal Archief is microfilming the local liberal press. The cities of Eeklo, Lier, Leuven, Mechelen, Nieuwpoort, Oudenaarde, Ronse, St-Niklaas, Tienen are already completed.

Of importance for the history of Belgian liberalism are the liberal periodicals, such as the Revue Trimestrielle (1854-1868), the Revue de Belgique (1869-1914), Le Flambeau (1918-1976), Progrès/Vooruitgang (1971-1990), Liberaal Reflex (1980-present), Liberalisme (1990-present). These periodicals encompass a period of 150 years and contain many cultural subjects as well.

Moreover, all the publications of the Willemsfonds since 1851 can be consulted, as well as the cultural magazines Tijdschrift van het Willemsfonds (1896-1904) and De Vlaamse Gids (1905-2000). Mention should also be made of the nearly complete collections of the Bibliothèque de propagande (1903-1914, 385 issues), the Bibliothèque antisuperstitieuse (1900-1924, 36 issues), and the Bibliothèque Gilon (Verviers, 1880's, 234 issues). These series are extremely valuable for the study of anticlericalism and liberal popular education.

The Liberaal Archief also boasts a valuable collection of clandestine pamphlets published during the German occupation of 1940-1944. Liberals often joined larger organisations, such as "Onafhankelijkheidsfront" (Independence Front) or "Geheim Leger" (Secret Army), which accounts for the rather small amount of preserved pamphlets drawn up in an outspoken liberal spirit, as was the case for Le Clan d'Estin and Le Précurseur. Click here.

The library contains some foreign liberal periodicals, such as Commentaire (France), Liberaal Reveil (Netherlands), Ordo and Liberal (Germany). The publications of the Teldersstichting (The Hague), the Documentatiecentrum Nederlandse Politieke Partijen (Groningen) and the Institute for Economic Affairs (London) are available.