This article will provide brief background information about the Afrika-Studiecentrum, its origins, aims, organisational structure and research activities, followed by a more detailed description of the library and documentation department The origins, contents, arrangement, coverage and distribution of the quarterly abstracts journal, Documentatieblad are explained, and are followed by a look at possibilities for European cooperation.

The Afrika-Studiecentrum began as the Leiden branch of the Rotterdam-based Afrika-Instituut, a commercially-oriented institute formally established in 1946 with the aim of promoting Dutch trade with Africa. In 1957 it split off from the parent institution and became an independent foundation, the present Afrika-Studiecentrum. Since then, it has grown from a relatively small documentation centre with a staff barely exceeding 10, to a relatively large interuniversity institute with a staff of around 40.