Biographisch woordenboek der Nederlanden, door A.J. van der Aa (voortgezet door K.J.R. van Harderwijk en G.D.J. Schotel).

The Biographisch woordenboek der Nederlanden is a monumental reference work initiated in the mid-19th century by Dutch biographer and man of letters Abraham Jacob van der Aa. Published in Haarlem between 1852 and 1878, the project was intended to provide a comprehensive biographical survey of notable historical figures from the Netherlands, encompassing individuals from all walks of life including statesmen, artists, and scholars.

Following Van der Aa's death, the monumental task of completing the work was taken up by collaborators K.J.R. van Harderwijk and G.D.J. Schotel. The set remains a foundational scholarly resource for Dutch historiography, prized for its rigorous detail and the sheer ambition of documenting national history through its individual actors. Its design follows the conventions of 19th-century academic encyclopedic publishing, prioritizing text-heavy, authoritative entries that served as the primary biographical reference for generations of researchers.