The archive consists mainly of project files, both from the E.D. period and the AKH period. The project files vary in size. Most of the early projects are only fragmentarily documented, while of the late work almost the complete project files have been preserved. The files of the National Institutes for Young People are particularly extensive.
The files consist mainly of drawings and written documents, in addition there are photographs and negatives.
In addition to the project files, the archive consists of the bureau organization and administration, non-project documentation materials, and materials belonging to field trips and professional activities.
The formation of the bureau's archives can be divided into three periods.

Period Office for Architecture, Industrial Design and Urban Development
ir. G.J. van der Grinten N.V. (1961-1970)

Little material has survived from this period. Much of the material from this period was destroyed in the bankruptcy of E.D. in 1984. An exception is part of the originals and documentation of projects of which Leo Heijdenrijk was the project architect. This material consists mainly of photographs and newspaper articles. The files of projects of which G.J. van der Grinten was the chief architect were destroyed.

An inventory of the archives revealed that material from these projects was nevertheless preserved. This material was mainly in the firm's negatives and slides collection, which explains why these project files consist mainly of this type of material.

Period E.D. (1970 - 1984)

The bureau organization at E.D. was not yet as well organized as it was later at AKH. There was a works list (application number d 315), but the whole design and construction process was not very strictly classified. A distinction was made only between "B" (specifications) and "W" (working) drawings. The working drawings have a number with a W in front of them (e.g., W 01). The specification drawings have no designation with a letter but only a number. The order of the numbers is chronological. In addition to this classification, other ordering principles are used. These may vary from file to file.

Period AKH (1984 - 2001)

Most of the material from the AKH office is still available. This part of the archive consists of drawings, photographs, slides, written documents, project records, documentation, library and a maquette. The project files vary enormously in size.
A convenient works list (Appendix 2) of this period is available. This provides a guide to the inventory but is not entirely complete. Both written documents and drawings are generally provided with the work number. This is one of the examples from which one can infer that the bureau's administration was well organized.
Another example is the distinction that was made between yellow binders for financial and personnel records, red binders for general records such as drawing lists, acquisitions and newspaper clippings, and blue binders for project files.
Within the blue binders there was a separate division to organize the administration of the projects. This was done by subject using a sort of index (Appendix 3). Not all of the numbers listed in the index were actually used. Some folders containing records did not contain an index at all.
The entire design and construction process was also coded. Each type of drawing was given a specific code that can be found on a list (Appendix 4).

Many of the projects were also documented through photographs. There are many photos that were taken by the agency staff themselves. However, some of the photographs were taken by recognized photographers. Unfortunately, the photographer is not known from all the photographs. Material from the following photographers was found in the archives:

Aerocamera Bart Hofmeester, Rotterdam
Annaleen Louwes, Amsterdam
Cas Oorthuys, Amsterdam
Delta-phot, Middelburg
Jan Derwig, Amsterdam
Jan van Dijk, The Hague
Fotobureau, G.H. Meijnen, Vlaardingen
Photobureau Henk van der Leen, The Hague
Photo Jacobi
Photography Kees Stuip, Nieuwerkerk aan de Ijssel
Photography Rob Glastra, Schoonhoven.
De Jong, Zeist
Johan Matser, Hilversum
Rob Meier, Leiden
National photo - press agency bv, Amsterdam
Victor E. Nieuwenhuis, Amsterdam
Oerlemans van Reeken studio, Rijswijk
Paul de Smalen, Amersfoort
Studio Brenneker and van der Sommen, Venlo
TH, central technical department
H. van Veen, Maassluis
Erik van der Vlist
Sybolt Voeten Architecture Photography
Dineke Groenhof-Blauw, Amsersfoort