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In 1795-1796 what is now Belgium was conquered by the Napoleonic regime, who introduced a system of civil registration throughout their territories. The first records were written in French and used the French Revolutionary Calendar. In 1815, Belgium was merged with what is now the Netherlands, creating the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Netherlands had also been conquered by Napoleon and from 1811 had a [[Netherlands Civil Registration|Civil Registration]] system. Both countries continued with this system. In 1830 Belgium became independent, but continued to keep civil registration records in a manner very similar to the Dutch system. | In 1795-1796 what is now Belgium was conquered by the Napoleonic regime, who introduced a system of civil registration throughout their territories. The first records were written in French and used the French Revolutionary Calendar. In 1815, Belgium was merged with what is now the Netherlands, creating the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Netherlands had also been conquered by Napoleon and from 1811 had a [[Netherlands Civil Registration|Civil Registration]] system. Both countries continued with this system. In 1830 Belgium became independent, but continued to keep civil registration records in a manner very similar to the Dutch system. | ||
The major languages of records in Belgium are Flemish (Dutch) in the North, and Walloon (French) in the South, and German in the East. To understand the records, you only need to know a few typical words such as those for mother, father, born, name, bride, groom, married, etc. Translation of these words are found under [[Luxembourg, Belgium Genealogy#1. Online Digital Records for Civil Registration|Online Digital Records for Civil Registration]] below and also on word lists for: [[Netherlands_Language_and_Languages|Dutch]], [[French Genealogical Word List|French]] and [[German Word List|German]]. | |||
==Coverage and Compliance== | |||
"Vital records are on file from 1796, and the current registration is considered to be comprehensive."<ref>Thomas Jay Kemp, “International Vital Records Handbook, 5th Edition,” Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc. Baltimore : 2009.</ref> | |||
Access to records in Belgium is unrestricted to for the following record types and years: | Access to records in Belgium is unrestricted to for the following record types and years: | ||
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Records later than these time periods are not open to the general public. | Records later than these time periods are not open to the general public. | ||
==Information Recorded in the Records== | ==Information Recorded in the Records== | ||
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Divorces are listed on the back of the marriage registers in the municipality where the marriage took place. Includes names, ages, dates and places, occupations, residences. | Divorces are listed on the back of the marriage registers in the municipality where the marriage took place. Includes names, ages, dates and places, occupations, residences. | ||
== References == | == References == | ||