Nationaal Archief MCP Server

Local setup required. This server has to be cloned and prepared on your machine before you register it in Claude Code.
1

Set the server up locally

Run this once to clone and prepare the server before adding it to Claude Code.

Run in terminal
pip install mcp httpx pydantic SPARQLWrapper
python na_mcp_server.py
2

Register it in Claude Code

After the local setup is done, run this command to point Claude Code at the built server.

Run in terminal
claude mcp add nationaal-archief -- python "<FULL_PATH_TO_NA_MCP_SERVER>/dist/index.js"

Replace <FULL_PATH_TO_NA_MCP_SERVER>/dist/index.js with the actual folder you prepared in step 1.

README.md

Access Netherlands National Archive collections via OAI-PMH and SPARQL.

Nationaal Archief MCP Server

Overview

This MCP server provides access to the Netherlands National Archive (Nationaal Archief) collections, with a focus on Dutch business history and colonial records that might contain information about F.W. Braat's activities in South Africa/Transvaal.

Features

  1. Search archival collections via OAI-PMH ✅
  2. Access linked open data via SPARQL (limited availability) ⚠️
  3. Retrieve specific archival records
  4. Explore business/commercial archives from the 1880s-1930s
  5. Find connections to South Africa/Transvaal
  6. Natural language query conversion (ready for SPARQL)

Installation

  1. Install dependencies: pip install mcp httpx pydantic SPARQLWrapper

  2. Run the server: python na_mcp_server.py

Tools Available

  1. na_search_archives - Search the Nationaal Archief collections (OAI-PMH)
  2. na_sparql_query - Execute SPARQL queries (limited availability)
  3. na_get_record - Retrieve detailed archival record information
  4. na_browse_collection - Explore archival collections hierarchically
  5. na_find_business_records - Specialized search for Dutch business records
  6. na_smart_query - Natural language to SPARQL conversion

Data Access Status

✅ Fully Working

  • OAI-PMH API: Full access to archiefinventarissen
  • Metadata search and browsing
  • Business records specialization
  • All core archival functions

⚠️ Limited Availability

  • SPARQL: Only Verkaufsbücher available as Linked Data
  • Main archiefinventarissen NOT available via SPARQL
  • Open Data Indexes: CSV/XML downloads only (not Linked Data)

Primary Access Method: OAI-PMH via na_search_archives tool

Tools (6)

na_search_archivesSearch the Nationaal Archief collections using OAI-PMH.
na_sparql_queryExecute SPARQL queries against available linked data.
na_get_recordRetrieve detailed information for a specific archival record.
na_browse_collectionExplore archival collections hierarchically.
na_find_business_recordsPerform a specialized search for Dutch business records.
na_smart_queryConvert natural language queries into SPARQL.

Configuration

claude_desktop_config.json
{"mcpServers": {"nationaal-archief": {"command": "python", "args": ["/path/to/na_mcp_server.py"]}}}

Try it

→Search for archival records related to F.W. Braat's activities in South Africa.
→Find business records from the 1920s regarding Dutch colonial trade.
→Browse the main archival collections to understand the structure of the inventory.
→Use natural language to find SPARQL data related to Verkaufsbücher.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key features of Nationaal Archief?

Search archival collections via OAI-PMH. Access linked open data via SPARQL. Retrieve detailed archival record information. Explore business and commercial archives from the 1880s-1930s. Convert natural language queries into SPARQL.

What can I use Nationaal Archief for?

Historians researching Dutch business history in the late 19th and early 20th century.. Researchers investigating colonial records and connections to South Africa.. Data analysts querying linked open data from the Netherlands National Archive..

How do I install Nationaal Archief?

Install Nationaal Archief by running: pip install mcp httpx pydantic SPARQLWrapper && python na_mcp_server.py

What MCP clients work with Nationaal Archief?

Nationaal Archief works with any MCP-compatible client including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, and other editors with MCP support.

Turn this server into reusable context

Keep Nationaal Archief docs, env vars, and workflow notes in Conare so your agent carries them across sessions.

Need the old visual installer? Open Conare IDE.
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