The OVN was founded after a private initiative by a group of academics and is not associated to any existing (masonic) organization or institute. The board is advised by an international committee of recommendation, consisting of professors of chairs in relevant fields of study.
The OVN aims to `stimulate academic research from all disciplines into the history of freemasonry in The Netherlands and its former territories from the time of its foundation until the present day, as well as to stimulate the (international) exchange of knowledge and the results of research into this field´.