This database is a Graph Database, that is: it uses structures for semantic queries with nodes, edges and properties to represent and store data. Data items are directly related to other items, in order to form a graph. In conventional databases, links between data are ad hoc and based on the data itself, and related items are gathered by searching for this data within the store. Graph databases are designed to allow simple and rapid retrieval of complex hierarchical structures, whereas a relational database would use a complex query to achieve the same end, generally with far less performance.
The system used to code the Database is Neo4j, a graph database management system developed by Neo Technology, Inc. It is a web-based, open source system, and with the help of the language Cypher, researchers can easily form their own complex queries.
The Database was set up in a close collaboration with the ICT department of Huygens ING, notably Gijs Brouwer (front end programmer), Bram Buitendijk (back end programmer) and Guido Gerritsen (project manager).