diff --git a/mdto/mdto.py b/mdto/mdto.py
index 93125fc..e0a07a9 100755
--- a/mdto/mdto.py
+++ b/mdto/mdto.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 from typing import TextIO, List
 from datetime import datetime
 from dataclasses import dataclass
+from pathlib import Path
 import lxml.etree as ET
 
 # Make into an optional dependency?
@@ -26,8 +27,8 @@ def _process_file(file_or_filename) -> TextIO:
         The returned file-object is always in read-only mode.
     """
 
-    # filename?
-    if isinstance(file_or_filename, str):
+    # filename or path?
+    if isinstance(file_or_filename, (str, Path)):
         return open(file_or_filename, "r")
     # file-like object?
     elif hasattr(file_or_filename, "read"):
diff --git a/tests/test_mdto_xsd.py b/tests/test_mdto_xsd.py
index 4493a49..892a392 100644
--- a/tests/test_mdto_xsd.py
+++ b/tests/test_mdto_xsd.py
@@ -1,17 +1,19 @@
 import pytest
 import lxml.etree as ET
+from pathlib import Path
 from mdto import (
     Informatieobject,
     IdentificatieGegevens,
     VerwijzingGegevens,
     BeperkingGebruikGegevens,
     BegripGegevens,
+    create_bestand,
 )
 
 
-def test_xml_validity(mdto_xsd):
-    """Test if outpt XML is valid according to the MDTO XSD"""
-    # create a schema object from the MDTO XSD 
+def test_informatieobject_xml_validity(mdto_xsd):
+    """Test if running to_xml() on a informatieobject procudes valid MDTO XML"""
+    # create a schema object from the MDTO XSD
     mdto_schema = ET.XMLSchema(ET.parse(mdto_xsd))
     # create informatieobject
     informatieobject = Informatieobject(
@@ -31,7 +33,30 @@ def test_xml_validity(mdto_xsd):
     # As a workaround, we serialize the ElemenTree object to a string, and then deserialize this
     # namespaced string. There are other ways to fix this, but their decreased readability does not
     # outweigh mildly complicating this test.
-    mdto_xml = ET.fromstring(ET.tostring(informatieobject.to_xml()))
+    informatieobject_xml = ET.fromstring(ET.tostring(informatieobject.to_xml()))
 
     # validate against schema
-    assert mdto_schema.validate(mdto_xml)
+    assert mdto_schema.validate(informatieobject_xml)
+
+
+def test_automatic_bestand_xml_validity(mdto_xsd, voorbeeld_archiefstuk_xml):
+    """Test if running to_xml() on a automatically generated Bestand procudes valid MDTO XML"""
+    # create a schema object from the MDTO XSD
+    mdto_schema = ET.XMLSchema(ET.parse(mdto_xsd))
+
+    # use this .py file for automatic metadata generation
+    example_file = Path(__file__)
+    # create Bestand object from README.md + existing informatieobject
+    bestand = create_bestand(
+        example_file,
+        "abcd-1234",
+        "Corsa",
+        voorbeeld_archiefstuk_xml,
+        url="https://example.com/",
+    )
+
+    # see comment about lxml above
+    bestand_xml = ET.fromstring(ET.tostring(bestand.to_xml()))
+
+    # validate against schema
+    assert mdto_schema.validate(bestand_xml)