Archives of the National Bank of Belgium

Collection description

Collection

Country:: Belgium

Holding institution:: National Archives of Belgium

Holding institution (official language):: Archives Générales du Royaume

Postal address:: Ruisbroekstraat 2-6 / Rue de Ruysbroeck 2-6, 1000 Brussel

Phone number:: +32 (0)2 513 76 80

Web address:: http://www.arch.be/

Email:: archives.generales@arch.be

Reference number:: NAB-Brussels-510-III.0111

Title:: Archives of the National Bank of Belgium

Title (official language):: Archief van de Nationale Bank van België

Creator/accumulator:: Nationale Bank van België; Banque Nationale de Belgique

Date(s):: 1850/1957

Extent:: 362 linear metres

Scope and content:: In this fonds we note a number of relevant series. The series of card indexes relating to various legal types of companies, kept as documentation, are relevant for economic history. See the card indexes for Personenvennootschappen met Beperkte Aansprakelijkheid (nos. 2004-2103, years 1920-1957), Naamloze Vennootschappen (nos. 2104-2156, years 1880-1957), and Coöperatieve Vennootschappen (nos. 2157-2176, years 1900-1957). The index cards refer to the information on the respective companies, published in the attachments of the Belgisch Staatsblad / Moniteur belge. The card indexes are ordered alphabetically and thematically (e.g. banks, insurance companies etc.). We also note i.a. the card index “NV’s onder Duitse controle tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog” (companies under German control during the Second World War) – see no. 2156. (This fonds is indirectly related to the Jewish population.)

Administrative/biographical history:: The National Bank of Belgium was set up in 1850 as a public limited company (naamloze vennootschap) controlled by the Belgian government and based in Brussels. The institution maintains close ties with the Belgian government and the Ministry of Finance, although it enjoys a high degree of autonomy due to its legal personality. The National Bank is managed by a board of administrators composed of the Governor and six Directors. Supervision is carried out by the College van Censoren, a Discontocomité and a Government Commissioner. Furthermore, the General Council (e.g. distribution of dividends and profits) and the General Assembly (e.g. election of directors and censoren, reception of the balance and the report of the Governor) also play a key role. The National Bank holds a number of core competences: discounting and acquisition of commercial and government securities, trade in gold and silver, granting advances on gold and silver bullion and coins, redeeming securities entrusted to the bank, taking into custody of securities and receiving money on current accounts, and granting short-term advances on (state-)guaranteed values. The institution is also exclusively authorised to issue banknotes, and it controls the mode and volume of banknote circulation. Since its creation the National Bank holds the function of state treasurer (Rijkskassier). (G. Leloup, Inventaris van het archief van de Nationale Bank van België, Brussel, AGR, I 421, 2008; J.-M. Yante & P.-A. Tallier (dir.), F. Plisnier, S. Carnel, G. Coppieters & V. Pirlot, Gids van de instellingen van openbaar nut in België. Deel III. Band 1. Notities van de parastatalen niet onderworpen aan de wet van 16 maart 1954 (notities 291 tot 379), Guides/Gidsen no. 70, Brussel, ARA-AGR, 2008, pp. 83-91.)

Subject terms:: Financial matters; Financial matters--Banks, banking, and bankers; Legal records; Nazism; Nazism--Nazi parties and organisations; Plunder; Plunder--Aryanisation; Trade and commerce

Finding aids:: G. Leloup, Inventaris van het archief van de Nationale Bank van België, I 421, Brussel, ARA-AGR, 2008.

Yerusha Network member:: State Archives of Belgium

fullscreen: Archives of the National Bank of Belgium

Collection

Downloads

Full record

Image fragment

Formats and links

Formats