Biographisch woordenboek der Nederlanden, bevattende levensbeschrijvingen van zodanige personen, die zich op eenigerlei wijze en ons vaderland hebben vermaard gemaakt

The Biographisch woordenboek der Nederlanden is an extensive biographical dictionary compiled by Abraham Jacob van der Aa during the mid-19th century. Initiated in 1852 and completed in 1878, the project was intended to serve as a comprehensive national archive, documenting the lives of notable Dutch figures across history. Its creation was rooted in the 19th-century European trend of nationalistic historiography, aiming to preserve the memory of individuals who contributed significantly to the identity and development of the Netherlands.

Van der Aa worked on the project for over two decades, often with limited resources and support, leading to a monumental publication consisting of twenty-one volumes. While the work received criticism for its occasional factual inaccuracies and reliance on secondary sources, it remains a foundational reference for historians of the Dutch Golden Age and beyond. Its design reflects the formal, academic standards of Victorian-era scholarly publishing, characterized by a structured alphabetical arrangement designed for institutional libraries and serious research.