In 1996 the Institute significantly improved access to its holdings in both qualitative and quantitative respects. The Internet multiplied the number of users. We received several fascinating collections, some of them profoundly international in scope. We made substantial progress in renewing and extending our research programme and offered new and popular infrastructural facilities to social historians. Though financial constraints tightened in Amsterdam as everywhere else, we managed to balance expenditure and income, and turnover grew significantly to more than NLG l0m ($6m). In brief the year was reasonably successful, thanks largely to the commitment of our dedicated staff.
