Netherlands Civil Registration- Vital Records: Difference between revisions

Civil registers (Registers van de Burgelijke Stand)are the vital records made by the government. Records of births, marriages, and deaths are commonly referred to as "vital records" because they refer to critical events in a person’s life. Dutch civil registration records are an excellent source for accurate information on names; dates; and places of births, marriages, deaths, and divorces.

Civil registration is crucial for research in the Netherlands. Civil authorities began registering births, marriages, and deaths on 1 March 1811 (earlier for some southern areas). After this date all individuals who lived in the Netherlands are recorded. Because they cover the entire population, are indexed (one year and 10 year indexes), and are easily accessible, civil registration records are the most important source for genealogical research in the Netherlands.