Bibliothèque royale de Belgique

The Royal Library of Belgium (Dutch: Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België [ˈkoːnɪŋkləkə ˌbiblijoːˈteːk fɑm ˈbɛlɣijə]; French: Bibliothèque royale de Belgique [biblijɔtɛk ʁwajal də bɛlʒik]; German: Königliche Bibliothek Belgiens [ˈkøːnɪklɪçə biblioˈteːk ˈbɛlɡiəns], abbreviated KBR and sometimes nicknamed Albertine in French or Albertina in Dutch) is the national library of Belgium. The institution owns several collections of historical importance, like the Library of the Dukes of Burgundy, and is the depository for all books ever published in Belgium or abroad by Belgian authors. The library's history goes back to the age of the Dukes of Burgundy in the 15th century. In 1559, King Philip II of Spain founded the Royal Library of the Low Countries at the Palace of Coudenberg. In 1837, the Royal Library of Belgium was formally established. In the second half of the 20th century, the current building was constructed on the Mont des Arts/Kunstberg in central Brussels, near the Central Station. There are four million bound volumes in the Royal Library, including a rare book collection numbering 45,000 works. The library has more than 750,000 prints, drawings and photographs, 150,000 maps and plans, and more than 250,000 objects, from coins to scales to monetary weights. The library also houses the Center for American Studies. The Royal Library is open for reference only. Patrons must be at least eighteen years of age and must pay an annual membership fee.