The Netherlands Genealogy

Getting started with research  in the Netherlands Welcome to the Dutch page! FamilySearch Wiki is a community website dedicated to helping people throughout the world learn how to find their ancestors. Willem I, Prince of Orange (April 24, 1533—July 10, 1584), also widely known as 'Willem de Zwijger' (William the Silent), or simply Willem van Oranje (William of Orange), as well as 'Vader des Vaderlands' (Father of the Fatherland), was born in the House of Nassau as a count of Nassau-Dillenburg. He became Prince of Orange in 1544 and is thereby the founder of the branch House of Orange-Nassau. He was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. He was assassinated by Balthasar Gérard (also written as 'Gerardts') in his own home, de Prinsenhof in Delft. Did you know? The Dutch fought an Eighty Years long war, from 1568—1648, to gain indepence and religious freedom and so became one of the countries where people of all religions and cultures could find refuge. Michiel de Ruyter was one of the great admirals at that time Did you know that in the Netherlands they have yearly "4-day-bike-tours" in different parts of the country? For more information see: 4-day-bike-tours Jurisdictions The capital city of the Netherlands is Amsterdam, but the goverment buildings are located in 's-Gravenhage (The Hague)where the Huis ten Bosch, residence of the reigning Queen Beatrix, is also located. Provinces The Netherlands consists of twelve provinces, the last one - Flevoland - was created from part of the former Zuider Zee/IJsselmeer on 1 January 1986. Drenthe Flevoland Fryslân or Friesland Gelderland Groningen Limburg Noord-Brabant Noord-Holland Overijssel Utrecht Zeeland Zuid-Holland Research Tools Some sources in determining place of origin Living relatives Old letters Photo album Newspaper obituaries Journals Family and bible records Census records Tombstone inscriptions Probate records Marriage and/or death records Some great research tools One of the first things I would suggest is searching the many Dutch genealogical web-sites. Websites Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie Digital Resources Online Geneanet Genlias Encyclopedias may provide information on all branches of knowledge or treat specific topics comprehensively, usually in alphabetically arranged articles. They often contain information of great interest for genealogical research, including articles about towns and places, prominent people, minorities, and religions. They can give information about diverse subjects, such as record-keeping practices, laws, customs, commerce, costumes, occupations, and archaic terminology. The Family History Library has general-knowledge encyclopedias from the Netherlands (in Dutch) along with Dutch-English and English-Dutch dictionaries. The encyclopedias and dictionaries are listed in the Family History Library Catalog under THE NETHERLANDS - ENCYCLOPEDIAS AND DICTIONARIES. The following is a good Dutch dictionary: Title Cassell's English-Dutch, Dutch-English dictionary = Engels-Nederlands, Nederlands-Engels woordenboek Kramer, Jacob, 1802-1869. Kramers' Engels Woordenboek Call Number 439.31321 Ca272 Publication London : Cassell, 1982 New York, New York : Macmillan Publishers Limited Physical xiv, 602, vii, 729 p. ; 19 cm. ISBN/ISSN 0025229400 Title Also Known As Cassell's Dutch dictionary Engels-Nederlands, Nederlands-Engels woordenboek English-Dutch, Dutch-English dictionary Kramers' Engels woordenboek Dutch-English online dictionary Research Strategies Introduction to the Netherlands Search Strategies Record Selection Table (helpful tools and resources, gazetteers) (language dictionary, handwriting guide or tutorial, etc.) Help Wanted In order to make this wiki a better research tool, we need your help! Many tasks need to be done. You can help by: Expand an articleor short page Create a new article Categorize articles Add external links to articles Add internal links to articles Other... Featured Content (Your text or images here) (Your Bullet) (Your Bullet) (Your Bullet) (Your Bullet) (Your Bullet) (Your Bullet) News and Events Hot off the Press! Current Events more... Topics Archives and Libraries Biography Cemeteries Census Church History Church Records Civil Registration Court Records Emigration and Immigration Former Dutch Colonies Gazetteers Genealogy Guardianship Handwriting Heraldry Historical Geography History Jewish Records Land and Property Language and Languages Maps Military History Military Records Minorities Names, Geographical Names, Personal Naturalization and Citizenship Nobility Notarial Records Periodicals Place Names Population Probate Records Public Records Record Selection Table Societies Taxation Vital Records Web-sites Useful Websites Websites