The State Archives of North Rhine Westphalia hold hundreds of thousands of documents, covering more than 1200 years of history. On the following pages, you will find information about the use of our archives and how to conduct a search, both online and in person, in our Reading Rooms in Duisburg, Münster and Detmold. If you’d like to visit a Reading Room, you can also find out how to prepare and plan for your visit in practical terms.