 | |
| Available in | Dutch |
|---|---|
| Owner | Maatschappij der Nederlandse Letterkunde |
| URL | www |
| Launched | 1999 |
| Current status | Online |
TheDigital Library for Dutch Literature (Dutch:Digitale Bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse Letteren[ˌdiɣiˈtaːləˌbiblijoːˈteːkvoːrdəˈneːdərlɑntsəˈlɛtərə(n)] orDBNL[deːbeːʔɛnˈɛl]) is awebsite (showing the abbreviation asdbnl) aboutDutch language andDutch literature. It contains thousands of literary texts, secondary literature and additional information, like biographies, portrayals etcetera, and hyperlinks. The DBNL is an initiative by the DBNL foundation that was founded in 1999 by the Society of Dutch Literature (Dutch:Maatschappij der Nederlandse Letterkunde).[1]
Building of the DNBL was made possible by donations, among others, from theDutch Organization for Scientific Research (Dutch: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek or NWO) and theNederlandse Taalunie. From 2008 to 2012, the editor wasRené van Stipriaan [nl].[2] The work is done by eight people inLeiden (as of 2013: The Hague), 20 students, and 50 people in thePhilippines who scan and type the texts.[2]
As of 2020,[update] the library is being maintained by a collaboration of theTaalunie, Vlaamse Erfgoedbibliotheek (Flemish Libraries), and theRoyal Library of the Netherlands.[3]
The DBNL provides theBasic Library of Dutch Literature, containing 1,000 works of fundamental importance to Dutch andFlemish cultural history.[2] The chairperson of the committee that selected the 1,000 key texts wasPaul Schnabel.[2] Nevertheless, some classic texts ofDutch literature, likeGerard Reve's 1947 novelThe Evenings (Dutch:De avonden) andWillem Frederik Hermans' 1966 novelBeyond Sleep (Dutch:Nooit meer slapen) are absent for copyright reasons.[2]
Questions have been raised as to the reliability of the information contained in this database by both authors and testators alike. The DBNL lacks a confirmation procedure as well as a complaints procedure.[4]
