FamilySearch Wiki

Netherlands Church Records: Difference between revisions

VisualWikitext
(Added Category)
(Corrected Place ID Number from FS Catalog.)
 
(251 intermediate revisions by 26 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
Church records [''kerkelijke'' registers] are excellent sources for accurate information on names as well as dates and places of births, marriages, and deaths. Most people who lived in the Netherlands were recorded in a church record.
{{CountrySidebar
|Country=Netherlands
|Name=Netherlands
|Type=Topic
|Topic Type=Records
|Records=Church Records
|Rating=Acceptable
}}{{breadcrumb
| link1=[[Netherlands Genealogy|Netherlands]]
| link2=
| link3=
| link4=
| link5=[[Netherlands Church Records|Church Records]]
}}
''For information about records for non-Christian religions in the Netherlands, go to the [[Netherlands Religious Records|Religious Records]] page.''


Records of births, marriages, and deaths are commonly called "civil registration" because critical events in a person’s life are recorded in them. Church records that contain vital records were made by ministers and priests. They are often called parish registers or church books. They include records of births, baptisms, marriages, deaths, and burials. In addition, church records may include account books (which record fees for tolling bells, fees for masses for the dead, and so forth), lists of confirmations, and lists of members.
==Online Resources==


Church records are crucial for pre-1811 Dutch research. Church records continued to be kept after the introduction of civil registration, but the Family History Library has not microfilmed many post–1811 church records. See the "[[Netherlands Civil Registration- Vital Records|Civil Registration]]" section for more information about post–1811 sources.
*'''1500-1858''' {{RecordSearch|2134301|Netherlands Bibliothèque Wallonne, Card Indexes, 1500-1858}} at FamilySearch; index & images
*'''1540-1899''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/dutchwwwburials/ Netherlands Burial Index, 1540-1899] at Ancestry; index only ($)
*'''1557-1902''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/dutchwwwbaptisms/ Netherlands Baptism Index, 1557-1902] at Ancestry; index only ($)
*'''1564-1910''' {{RecordSearch|1778468|Netherlands Births and Baptisms, 1564-1910}} at FamilySearch; index only; ''Also at [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/netherlands-births-and-baptisms-1564-1910 Findmypast]'' ($)
*'''1565-1892''' {{RecordSearch|1500716|Netherlands Marriages, 1565-1892}} at FamilySearch; index only; ''Also at [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/netherlands-marriages-1565-1892 Findmypast]'' ($)
*'''1575-1938''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/dutchwwwweddings/ Netherlands Marriage Index, 1575-1938] at Ancestry; index only ($)
*'''1580-1811''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10564/netherlands-church-baptisms-1580-1811?utm_source=organic_blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=supersearch&tr_funnel=supersearch&tr_country=US&tr_creative=sep19historicalrecords&utm_content=sep19historicalrecords Netherlands Church Baptisms, 1580-1811] at MyHeritage; index only ($)
*'''1600-1935''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10754/netherlands-notarial-records-1600-1935?utm_source=organic_blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=supersearch&tr_funnel=supersearch&tr_country=US&tr_creative=dec19firsthalf&utm_content=dec19firsthalf Netherlands Notarial Marriage Records, 1600-1935] at MyHeritage; index only ($)
*'''1600-2000''' {{RecordSearch|2704829|Netherlands Archival Indexes Vital Records, 1600-2000}} at FamilySearch; index & images at FamilySearch; index & images
*'''1601-1811''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10566/netherlands-church-burials-1601-1811?utm_source=organic_blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=supersearch&tr_funnel=supersearch&tr_country=US&tr_creative=sep19historicalrecords&utm_content=sep19historicalrecords Netherlands Church Burials, 1601-1811] at MyHeritage; index only ($)
*'''1668-1945''' {{RecordSearch|1500717|Netherlands Deaths and Burials, 1668-1945}} at FamilySearch; index only; ''Also at [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30066/netherlands-deaths-burials-1668-1945?s=275764761 MyHeritage]'' ($), ''[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/netherlands-deaths-and-burials-1668-1945 Findmypast]'' ($)
*'''1784-1917''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/dutchwwwbirths/ Netherlands Birth Index, 1784-1917] at Ancestry; index only ($)
*'''1795-1969''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/dutchwwwdeath/ Netherlands Death Index, 1795-1969] at Ancestry; index only ($)
*[https://www.findmypast.com/search/results?datasetname=british%20armed%20forces%20and%20overseas%20banns%20and%20marriages&country=netherlands&sid=999 British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages] at Findmypast; index & images ($)
*[https://www.findmypast.com/search/results?datasetname=british%20armed%20forces%20and%20overseas%20births%20and%20baptisms&country=netherlands&sid=999 British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms] at Findmypast; index & images ($)
*[https://www.findmypast.com/search/results?datasetname=british%20armed%20forces%20and%20overseas%20deaths%20and%20burials&country=netherlands&sid=999 British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials] at Findmypast; index & images ($)
*[https://www.wiewaswie.nl/ WieWasWie] at WieWasWie; index & images
*{{RecordSearch|2841008|Netherlands, Archival Indexes, Public Records}} at FamilySearch; index


=== General Historical Background ===
== Netherlands Church Records  ==


The practice of keeping parish registers evolved slowly. The first surviving register is from 1542 at Deventer. Catholic churches in general began requiring baptism, marriage, and death records in 1563; Dutch Reformed churches after 1572. There are Dutch Reformed records for most places after 1650. Dutch church records are usually written in Dutch or Latin.
Church records (''DTB'') are the main sources for births, marriages and deaths in the Netherlands between about 1550 and 1811.They recorded baptisms (or circumcisions), marriages and burials and sometimes confirmations, membership records and conversions.  


Note the following points about Dutch church records:
In the late 1500s Churches began to mandate that registers of baptisms and marriages were kept. Burials were often not recorded at first. Records do not always exist for the period before 1700.


* Large cities have many churches, each serving part of the city. Rural churches often serve several villages and hamlets. Parish boundaries often changed, thus affecting where church records were kept.
Records kept by Catholics are written in Latin. Most other records will be written in Dutch.  
* Military churches in garrison towns and cities often kept their own records separate from those of other parishes.
* In many parts of the Netherlands the death registers began later than the baptism and marriage registers.
* The registers of baptisms, marriages, and deaths from different geographic areas vary considerably in the amount of information they provide. Each jurisdiction had its own recordkeeping rules, and each recorder had his own style.
* In some areas the records of people of other faiths were kept by the predominant church. The principal church in the Netherlands was the Dutch Reformed Church.


For more information, see the "[[Netherlands Church History|Church History]]" and "[[Netherlands History|History]]" sections.
The main types of Church records are


'''Feast Dates'''. Each day of the year had several patron saints and was a feast day to honor those saints. Some vital events are recorded in church records only by the holy day (feast day) on the church calendar. For example, the feast day called All Saints Day [''Allerheiligendag''] is 1 November. To convert feast dates to days of the month for either the Julian (old style) or Gregorian (new style) calendar, use the following book:
*''Dopen'' (Baptisms)
*''Trouwen'' (Marriages)  
*''Begraven'' (Burials)  
*''Lidmaten'' (List of Parish Members)


Bukke, Inger M., et al. ''The Comprehensive Genealogical Feast Day Calendar''. Bountiful, Utah: Thomson’s Genealogical Center, 1983. (FHL book 529.44 C738; fiche 6054630.)
<br> Church records are arranged by religion. Most people in the Netherlands belonged to either the Dutch Reformed (''Nederduits Gereformeerd'') or Roman Catholic Churches. Some belonged to other religions such as Lutherans or Mennonites (''Doopsgezinde'') or were Jews (''Jooden''). See the page [[Netherlands Church History]] for more information about different religions in the Netherlands.  


There is an online source to convert the various calendars at:
Church records are crucial for pre-1811 Dutch research. Church records continued to be kept after the introduction of civil registration, but are not kept by the FamilySearch Library and are generally difficult to access. After 1811 they were mostly superseded by [[Netherlands Civil Registration|Civil Registration]].


http://www.calendarhome.com/converter/
==Information in Records==
=== Baptisms (''Dopen'')  ===


=== Duplicate Church Records ===
From about 1550 onwards, Churches started to keep registers of infants that had been baptized. Catholics were usually baptized within two days of birth. Protestants may have waited until a Sunday. Mennonites/Doopsgezinden only baptized adults.


Unfortunately, some of the church records of the Netherlands were destroyed in wars or when parish houses burned. Because of concerns about such destruction, authorities in some areas began requiring copies of church books in the 1700s. Copies were either stored separately or sent to a central archive. These copies are called transcripts or duplicates [afschriften or contra-boeken], and most are housed in state archives or central church archives.
Earlier registers typically give less information, sometimes including only the child’s and father’s names and the baptism date. Earlier records do not always name the mother, or give only her first name.  


Use duplicates, where available, to supplement parish registers that are missing or illegible. Keep in mind that duplicates often differ slightly from the originals.
Because of social conditions in the Netherlands, the birth of illegitimate children was not uncommon.  


=== Information Recorded in Church Registers ===
<br> The Following information will usually be found in a baptism record:


The information recorded in church records varied over time. Later records usually give more complete information than earlier ones. The most important church records for genealogical research are baptism, marriage, and burial registers. Other helpful church records may include confirmation lists, lists of members, church council minutes, and account books.
*The name of the baptized
*The date of the baptism, and sometimes the date of birth
*The name of the parents, or at least the father's name
*The name of the witnesses or godparents
*The place of birth and/or baptism
*Whether the child was legitimate or illegitimate


Most Catholic records were written in Latin. Protestant records were generally written in Dutch. Local dialects may have affected the spelling of some names and other words in the church records.
Remember, not all of this information will always be there, especially the names of witnesses and the place/date of birth. The main date on the record will be that of the baptism, not the birth. Most baptism records do not have a birth date.  


There was no specific record-keeping style for church records. Early records were usually written in paragraph form. As record keeping improved, columns were often used in the entries. However, some places (especially Catholic parishes) used the paragraph format for a long time.
<br>


=== Baptisms [''Dopen''] ===
==== Examples  ====


Children were usually baptized a few days after birth. Baptism registers usually give the infant’s name, parents’ names, status of legitimacy, witnesses or godparents, and baptism date. You may also find the child’s birth date, the father’s occupation, and the family’s place of residence. Death information was sometimes added as a note or signified by a cross.
<gallery perrow="3" heights="120px" widths="160px">
Image:Doop entry.jpg|Example 1
Image:Doop entry 2.jpg|Example 2
Image:Doop entry 3.jpg|Example 3
</gallery>


Earlier registers typically give less information, sometimes including only the child’s and father’s names and the baptism date. Until the end of the 1700s, ministers in some communities did not name the mother in the records, or they included only her given name. Sometimes only the baptism date was recorded, but in later years the birth date was given as well.
=== Confirmations (''Communicanten'')  ===


Because of social conditions in the Netherlands, the birth of illegitimate children was not uncommon.
Catholics have their First Communion at age 6 or 7 and their Second Communion at age 12. Protestants have their confirmation at about age 15. Most confirmation registers merely list the names of those being confirmed and the confirmation date.


=== Marriages [''Akten van trouw'' or ''Huwelijken''] ===
=== Marriages (''Trouwen'')  ===


Marriage registers give the marriage date and the names of the bride and groom. The registers also indicate whether they were single or widowed before the marriage and where they were from (which may or may not be their birthplace). They often include other information about the bride and groom, such as their ages, residences, occupations, birthplaces, parents’ names, and witnesses. In cases of second and later marriages, they may include the names of previous spouses.
Marriage registers list all newly married couples. They started to be kept in the late 1500s. To be married in the Netherlands, marriage banns (''ondertrouwen'') had to be posted for three weeks in every town recently resided in by either or both of the groom and bride. Then could they marry in the Dutch Reformed (''Nederduitse Gereformeerde''':''' NG'') Church or before the court or civil authorities (''schepenstrouwen'' or ''gerechtstrouwen''), usually in the residence of the bride. In most towns it was standard for everyone to marry before the NG Church, but in some places (e.g. Haarlem, Culemborg) civil marriages were the norm for those not a member of the NG Church. From 1795 onward civil marriages became mandatory. Only after this they were permitted to marry in the church of another religion. Thus you will often find multiple records of banns and marriages for the same couple.  


The earliest marriage records may give only the names of the bride and groom and have little or no information about the couple’s parents. Couples were usually married in the residence parish of the bride. Typically, women married for the first time between 18 and 25. Men typically married for the first time in their mid to late twenties.
After marriage they usually went to live in the residence place of the groom. Typically the groom was a few years old than the bride. The average age at first marriage in the Netherlands was very high for the times, with grooms often aged around thirty.


Marriage entries for soldiers usually only give the name of the commander or company that the groom was in. To locate the groom’s birthplace, consult the military service records. See the "[[Netherlands Military Records|Military Records]]" section for more information.
It is important to note that records of banns and the actual marriage are almost always included together. If the marriage was recorded separately to the banns, the record often includes names only and is not worth pursuing. Catholic marriage registers often only contain names.  


From 1588 to 1795 the Dutch Reformed Church was the state church. Nonconformists had to be married in that church or by civil authorities. You may also find their marriage recorded in their own church. For additional help, see the "[[Netherlands Public Records|Public Records]]" section.
The following information may be found in a pre-1811 entry:


In the province of Holland a tax on marriages was imposed from 1695 to 1805. If you do not locate your ancestor’s marriage in any other source, look in the marriage tax records. See the "[[Netherlands Taxation|Taxation]]" section for more information.
*The names of the bride and groom
*The date of the marriage
*Whether they were single (usually written j.m. or j.d.), widowed or divorced at the time of marriage. Any previous spouses may be named.
*The names of the witnesses
*The place of their births (or where they were residing when married)
*The date of the marriage proclamations or banns
*If the groom was a member of the military, the regiment or name of the commanding officer


'''Marriage Intentions [''Ondertrouw''].''' In addition to the actual marriage registers, many churches in the Netherlands kept a separate book where other records of marriage were recorded. These records are called marriage intentions. Often the marriage intention date and marriage date are recorded in the same register.
In some registers, especially after 1794 and in Amsterdam, the following may be recorded.  


Marriage registers sometimes give the three dates on which intended marriages were announced (either read out loud or posted in church). These announcements, called banns, gave other community members a chance to object to the marriage.
*The names of their parents
*The date of their births (or their age at the time of marriage)
* Their occupation


=== Burials [''Begrafenissen''] ===
==== Marriage Supplements (''Trouwbijlagen'')  ====


Burials were recorded in the parish where the person was buried. The burial usually took place within a few days of death.
Especially after 1794 there may be marriage supplements. These will contain evidence of deaths of former spouses and the names of parents (for parental consent). Other information may be found.


Burial registers give the deceased’s name, marital status, and date and place of death and/or burial. Sometimes the age, place of residence, cause of death, and names of survivors are given. Often the amount of money paid for ringing the bell or renting burial cloths is given.
==== Marriage Tax (''Impost op Trouwen'')  ====


Burial records may exist for individuals who were born before the earliest baptism and marriage records. In other places, burial records may start many years later than the baptism and marriage records of the same parish.
In the province of Holland (now Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland) a tax on marriages was imposed from 1695 to 1805. If you do not locate your ancestor’s marriage in any other source, look in the marriage tax records. They are also useful for determing how wealthy there were. See the "[[Netherlands Taxation|Taxation]]" section for more information.


Church account books [''kerkrekeningen''] often give details about burials.
==== Marriage contracts and banns (''Huwelijksaangaanen en bijlagen'')  ====
Content: Couples’ names, marriage intention dates, residences, occupations, witnesses’ names, often parents’ names and sometimes other relationships.


=== Confirmations [''Belijdenissen or Vormsel Registers''] ===
=== Burials (''Begraven'')  ===


Catholics were usually confirmed around age 12, Protestants about age 15. Most confirmation registers merely list the names of those being confirmed and the confirmation date.
Burials were recorded in the parish where the person was buried. The burial usually took place within a few days of death. In some places burial records started long before baptisms and marriages but in most places they start quite late, often well into the 1700s. In most places people of all religions had to be buried in the Dutch Reformed Church or in the Catholic Church, depending on which was dominant in that town. From 1806-1811 there were civil burial records called ''registers van aangegeven lijken,'' usually cataloged with church burial records.


=== Membership Records [''Lidmaten''] ===
The following information will usually be found in a burial record


Most churches kept a record of their members, usually organized by village or street. The records contain members’ names, dates of confessions of faith, and dates of arrival from other parishes. They may also contain death dates, dates members left the parish, communion lists, or names of those attending catechism school.
*The date of burial
*The name of the deceased
*The spouse of the deceased
*The age, especially if the deceased is a child
*The parents if the deceased is a child
*The tax paid, which was determined by their wealth and ability to pay
 
Some records, especially later records after 1794 may contain
 
*Cause of death
*Place of residence or death
 
<br> Church account books [''kerkrekeningen''] often give details about burials.
 
=== Membership Records (''Lidmaten'') ===
 
Some churches, especially in the Dutch Reformed religion,  kept a record of their members. The records contain members’ names, dates of confessions of faith, and dates of arrival from other parishes. They may also contain death dates, dates members left the parish, communion lists, or names of those partaking of the sacrament or attending catechism school. The records of members arriving or departing are of great value as they mention the town or parish the member came from or moved to, which helps to then locate further records.  


Membership records are usually in the archive of the church council [''kerkeraad''] of the parish. Sometimes they are part of the baptism or marriage register.
Membership records are usually in the archive of the church council [''kerkeraad''] of the parish. Sometimes they are part of the baptism or marriage register.


=== Church Council Minutes [''Kerkeraadshandelingen''] ===
=== Church Council Minutes (''Kerkeraadshandelingen'')  ===
 
Minutes of the church council can provide important information about your ancestor. They usually contain ministers’ names and dates of service, appointments of elders and other parish officials, disciplinary actions, names of fathers of illegitimate children, and money paid for the poor.


Minutes of the church council can provide important information about your ancestor. They usually contain ministers’ names and dates of service, appointments of elders and other parish officials, disciplinary actions, names of fathers of illegitimate children, and money paid for the poor.
Certificates of indemnity or surety [''akten van indemniteit''] were sometimes issued to church members moving to a new town. The certificates guaranteed that the former parish would receive the people back in case they became poor.


Certificates of indemnity or surety [akten van indemniteit] were sometimes issued to church members moving to a new town. The certificates guaranteed that the former parish would receive the people back in case they became poor.
== Finding Netherlands Church Records  ==
[[File:Catholic Dioceses in the Netherlands.png|200px|thumb|right|<center>Catholic Dioceses in the Netherlands</center>]]
===Online Records===
Essentially all Netherlands Church records from before 1811 are now online. This section gives instructions on where to find them and how to search them.  
<br>


=== Church Records Indexes ===
#To find out what records have survived, the best place to start is the website of the regional archive that holds the records.  See below for regional sites, or consult the Wiki page for your province. See also the Inventories section below. 
#Use a search engine. [[WieWasWie]] and [https://www.openarch.nl/ OpenArch] have national coverage.
#Search next for a published transcription or alphabetical index, often found on [http://geneaknowhow.net/digi/resources.html GeneaKnowHow] or FamilySearch, or try a Google search.
#If all these do not exist or you fail to find what you are looking for, you will have to browse images manually. Use FamilySearch or [http://vpnd.nl Van Papier Naar Digitaal (VPND)].
#[https://www.genealogiewerkbalk.nl/fs/? Genealogie Werkbalk] can help to find the correct set of images on FamilySearch.


Most of the registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials for the Netherlands have been indexed by the archives and other interested genealogists.
==== Regional Sites  ====


An example of an important index is that for the city of Amsterdam. Hundreds of registers for several denominations are easily accessible by using a card index. See the following guide:
The following sites contain Church records. They are mostly regional and provincial archives. The data may also be available on [https://www.openarch.nl/ OpenArch] or [[WieWasWie]]<br>


''Church and Civil Records of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, before 1811.'' Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1975. (FHL book 929.1 G286gs ser. C no. 25; fiche 6000355–6000356.)
{| width="600" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|'''Noord-Holland'''
|
|-
| Amsterdam<br>
| Search on the site of the [https://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl/archieven/archiefbank/indexen/hoe_werken_de_indexen/ Stadsarchief Amsterdam]. 
|-
| Alkmaar
| Search on the site of the [https://www.regionaalarchiefalkmaar.nl/ Regionaal Archief Alkmaar]
|-
| West-Friesland<br>
| Search on the site of the [http://www.westfriesarchief.nl/onderzoek/zoeken/personen West-Fries Archief]<br>
|-
| Waterland<br>
| Some are transcribed on the site of [http://waterlandsarchief.nl/voorouders/klappers Waterlands Archief],<br>
|-
|Haarlem
|Limited coverage  at  [http://noord-hollandsarchief.nl/personen/databases Noord-Hollands Archief]
|-
|'''Zuid-Holland'''
|
|-
| Leiden (and Oegstgeest)<br>
| Search on the site of [https://www.erfgoedleiden.nl/collecties/personen Erfgoed Leiden en omstreken]<br>
|-
| Rijnlands Midden<br>
| Streekarchief Rijnlands Midden was closed by 1/1/2017.
The municipality of Alphen aan den Rijn has set up an own municipal archive: [https://gemeentearchief.alphenaandenrijn.nl/collectie?mizig=100 Municipal Archives Alphen aan den Rijn].<br>
The municipalities of Kaag and Braassem and Nieuwkoop have placed their archives in the archive of [https://www.erfgoedleiden.nl/collecties/personen Leiden and surrounding areas].<br>
|-
| Midden Holland<br>
| Search on the site of the [http://www.samh.nl/genealogie/ Streekarchief Midden Holland]<br>
|-
| Rotterdam<br>
| Search on the site of the [http://www.stadsarchief.rotterdam.nl/en Rotterdam Stadsarchief]<br>
|-
| Delft<br>
| Search on the site of the [http://www.archief-delft.nl/ Delft Archief]<br>
|-
| Den Haag<br>
| Search on the site of the [http://denhaag.digitalestamboom.nl/%28S%28gctpkfx3s2p1yrghtnnnfrrn%29%29/nl/home.htm Haags Archief]<br>
|-
| Dordrecht<br>
| Search on the site of the [http://www.regionaalarchiefdordrecht.nl/archief/ Regionaal Archief Dordrecht]<br>
|-
| '''Utrecht'''<br>
| Search on [http://www.hetutrechtsarchief.nl/collectie/archiefbank/indexen/dtb Het Utrechts Archief]<br>
|-
| '''Gelderland''' <br>
| Search on the site of [http://www.geldersarchief.nl/familiegeschiedenis Gelders Archief]<br>
|-
|Nijmegen
|Search on the site of [https://regionaalarchiefnijmegen.nl/ Regionaal Archief Nijmegen]
|-
|Rivierenland
|Search or browse on [https://regionaalarchiefrivierenland.nl/archieven?mivast=102&mizig=185&miadt=102&milang=nl&mizk_alle=genealogische%20bronnen&miview=tbl Regionaal Archief Rivierenland]
|-
| '''Noord-Brabant<br>'''
| Search on the site of [https://www.bhic.nl/onderzoeken/stamboom/eenvoudig-zoeken BHIC]<br>
|-
| '''Limburg'''
| Search on the site of [http://www.allelimburgers.nl/ AlleLimburgers]
|-
|'''Overijssel'''
|Browse on the site of [https://www.historischcentrumoverijssel.nl/zoeken-in-de-collecties/archieven?mivast=141&mizig=210&miadt=141&miaet=1&micode=0124&minr=14330682&miq=739647290&miview=inv2&milang=nl Historisch Centrum Overijssel]
|-
| Zwolle<br>
| Search in the [https://historischcentrumoverijssel.nl/archieven/?mivast=20&mizig=235&miadt=141 Generale Index Zwolle] <br>
|-
|Kampen
|Limited coverage at [https://www.stadsarchiefkampen.nl/doorzoek-genealogische-bronnen Stadsarchief Kampen]
|-
|Enschede
|Search on the site of [https://enschedepubliek.hosting.deventit.net/zoeken.php?zoeken&#x5B;modules&#x5D;&#x5B;&#x5D;=1431793 Stadsarchief Enschede]
|-
| '''Friesland'''<br>
| Search on the site [http://www.allefriezen.nl AlleFriezen]<br>
|-
| '''Drenthe<br>'''
| Search on [http://alledrenten.nl/ AlleDrenten]<br>
|-
| '''Groningen'''<br>
| Search on [http://www.allegroningers.nl/ AlleGroningers]<br>
|}


The Family History Library has collected many indexes to Dutch church records. These are listed in the Place search of the catalog under:
.


NETHERLANDS, [PROVINCE] – CHURCH RECORDS – INDEXES
=== FamilySearch Catalog  ===


NETHERLANDS, [PROVINCE], [TOWN] – CHURCH RECORDS – INDEXES
A very small number of church records were not included in the historical record collections and Genealogie Werkbalk. Also, some transcripts and indexes compiled by individuals or societies might be found here. For these records you must use the FamilySearch catalog. 
:::a. Click on this link to see a list of [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=1927059&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Netherlands%22 '''records for Netherlands'''].
:::b. Click on '''"Places within Netherlands"''' and a list of provinces will appear. Select your province.
:::c.  A list of municipalities will open. Click on the '''place''' you wish to search.
:::d. Click on '''Church Records--Indexes''', if available.  See what indexes might assist you, but always verify information in the original records.
:::e. Next, click on '''Church Records''' to see the original records. '''"Hervormde Kerkelijke"''' is the Dutch Reformed Church and '''"Katholieke Kerkelijke"''' is the Catholic Church. Unless you know the family's religion, search both.
:::f. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
:::g. Choose the correct '''event and time period''' for your ancestor.  '''"Dopen"''' are baptisms. '''"Trouwen"''' are marriages. '''"Overlijden"'''  are deaths. '''"Communie"''' are communion records. ''''"Lidmaten"''' are membership lists.  '''"Klappers"''' are indexes.
:::h.. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record. [[File:FHL icons.png|75px]].  The magnifying glass indicates that the microfilm is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. '''''Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the microfilm.'''''


=== Locating Church Records ===
=== Inventories  ===


Church records were kept at the local parish of the church. The term parish refers to the jurisdiction of a church minister. Parishes are local congregations that may have included many neighboring villages in their boundaries.
Church record inventories are essential tools for finding Dutch records. They identify records that are available, their location, and the years they cover.  


To use church records, you must know both your ancestor’s religion and the town where he or she lived.
The CBG (Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie) has posted '''"Repertorium DTB"''', a nationwide inventory of Netherlands church records, by Willem Wijnaendts van Resandt. It can be downloaded as a .pdf file  at [https://cbg.nl/documents/2/Repertorium-dtb-totaal-ocr.pdf '''Repertorium DTB'''].  


Some gazetteers indicate parish jurisdictions. For more information, see the "[[Netherlands Gazetteers|Gazetteers]]" section and the section below, which discusses church record inventories.
For specific places or provinces, use the applicable archives inventory feature. It will list in an ordered manner all the records held by the archive. Available online images and indexes are usually indicated there. <br>
 
=== Gazetteers  ===
 
To use church records, you must know both your ancestor’s religion and the town where he or she lived.
 
Some gazetteers indicate parish jurisdictions. For more information, see the "[[Netherlands Gazetteers|Gazetteers]]" section and the section above, which discusses church record inventories.  


A small village that did not have its own church was usually assigned to a parish in a nearby larger town. Consequently, your ancestor may have lived in one village but belonged to a parish in another town. This is particularly true of Roman Catholic parishes. In predominant Dutch Reformed Church areas, Roman Catholic records include people for a wide area.
A small village that did not have its own church was usually assigned to a parish in a nearby larger town. Consequently, your ancestor may have lived in one village but belonged to a parish in another town. This is particularly true of Roman Catholic parishes. In predominant Dutch Reformed Church areas, Roman Catholic records include people for a wide area.


The Family History Library Catalog refers to parishes by the town in which the parish church was located, unless there was more than one church in the town. In large cities there may be many parishes for each religion. Church buildings were often named for saints, so the catalog uses the church name such as St. John to distinguish between different parishes in the same city.
== Search Strategies and Tips  ==
 
*Useful tips about different religions in the Netherlands can be found on [[Netherlands Church History]].  
*Protestants (excepts Huguenots/Wallonia Reformed and Lutherans) wrote their records in Dutch. See [[Netherlands Language and Languages]] and [[Netherlands Handwriting]].


=== Church Record Inventories ===
*Huguenots/Wallonia Reformed and a few French Catholics wrote their records in French. See [[French Wordlist]].


Church record inventories are essential tools for finding Dutch records. They identify records that are available, their location, and the years they cover. The following source, prepared by the Central Office for Genealogy, lists all known church records of the Netherlands:
*Catholics wrote their records in Latin. See [[Latin Genealogical Word List]].


Wijnaendts van Resandt, Willem. ''Repertorium DTB: Globaal Overzicht van de Nederlandse Doop–, Trouw– en Begraafregisters e.d. van voor de Invoering van de Burgerlijke Stand (Concise Repertory of Dutch Parish Registers, etc.).'' 2nd ed. ’s-Gravenhage: Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie, 1980. (FHL book Ref 949.2 K2w 1980.) This inventory has explanations in Dutch, English, and German.
*Lutherans wrote their records in German. See [[Germany Handwriting]].


Church record inventories are also available for each province in the Netherlands. They are listed in the Place search of the Family History Library Catalog under:
*Mothers will almost certainly be referred to by their maiden name but this is not always true for witnesses/sponsors/godparents.


NETHERLANDS – CHURCH RECORDS – INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS
*Don't assume people went to the nearest church, especially in rural areas. Always search the neighboring towns.


NETHERLANDS, [PROVINCE] – CHURCH RECORDS – INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS
*Names in Catholic records will be Latinised, especially first names. For example Hendrik Bakker may become Hendricus Pistorius.


=== Records at the Family History Library ===
*Remember that some names are very common (e.g. Jan Jansz). Don't assume that just because their names are the same that they are the same people. If there are multiple people born around the same time that you cannot distinguish, use these tips:
**Look at the names of their parents and their mothers' maiden name.
**Look at the names of the witnesses to their marriages and the baptisms of their children. These are often siblings.
**Look at burial records to see if any of them died as a baby or child.


The Family History Library has filmed nearly all church records of the Netherlands. The library has church records to mostly 1811; some are later. The specific holdings of the Family History Library are listed in the Family History Library Catalog. You can determine whether the library has records for the locality your ancestor came from by checking the "Locality Search" section of the Family History Library Catalog. However, if a record has been destroyed, was never kept, or has not been microfilmed, the Family History Library does not have a copy.
*Sometimes Baptisms and Marriages were recorded in the same book.


In the Family History Library Catalog, look under the name of the town where the church was, not necessarily the town where your ancestor lived. Look under:
*''Ondertrouwen'' (The Marriage banns) were recorded in the residences of both the bride and groom, but the actual marriage was recorded only in the residence of the bride.


NETHERLANDS, [PROVINCE], [TOWN] – CHURCH RECORDS
*Everyone had to marry before the Dutch Reformed Church or court. They could then marry in their own religion but did not always, due to legal reasons.


=== Locating Records Not at the Family History Library ===
*The Marriage banns system only applies to marriages in the Dutch Reformed Church. For other religions there will only be one marriage - in the residence of the bride


Baptism, marriage, and burial records not at the Family History Library may be found by contacting or visiting local parishes or archives in the Netherlands.
*The first child was often born illegitimately or within 9 months of marriage. It is rare for a couple to be childless 2 years after marriage.


The Netherlands has no single repository of church records. The present location of records depends on several factors of nationality, religion, and local history. Records are located in one or more of the following places:
*Gaps between children tend to be 12-24 months while the woman is young, but stretch out to as much as every 5 years when she is older.


* '''Local parishes'''. Recent registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials are at the parish; older ones are at the state and municipal archives. Other church records such as membership lists, church council minutes, and account books are usually still at the parishes.
*Be aware of naming traditions. The first son should be named after the father's father and the first daughter after the mother's mother. The second son and second daughter should be named after the other two grandparents.
* '''State archives'''. In 1929 the government ordered that all pre–1811 records be sent to the state archives. Most places complied. Some of the records have since been deposited in regional and municipal archives. Records at these archives have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library.
* '''Church archives'''. Some church records are collected in diocese or general church archives. Church archives are often unable to handle genealogical requests but can determine whether specific records are available.
* '''The Central Office for Genealogy'''. This office has copies of many parish registers. See the "[[Netherlands Societies|Societies]]" section for more information.


'''Correspondence'''. You do not need to write in Dutch when corresponding with archives in the Netherlands. When writing for copies, send the following:
*Unless two of the grandparents had the same name, two siblings alive at the same time should not have the same given name. If two children in a family received the same name, it probably means the elder died.


* Check or money order for the search fee (usually about $10.00).
*Always search for all the siblings in a family so that you can use the above two points and for the witnesses/godparents who were usually relatives.
* Full name and the sex of the person sought.
* Names of the parents, if known.
* Approximate date and place of the event you want information about.
* Your relationship to the person.
* Reason for the request (family history, medical, etc.).
* Request for a photocopy of the complete original record.
* Three international reply coupons, available from your local post office.


=== Search Strategies ===
*Be sure you know where you get information from. Note down the precise church. Note the number of the record (inventory number) and the name of the parish.


Effective use of church records includes the following strategies in addition to the general strategies:


* Search for the ancestor you selected in step two. When you find his or her birth record, search for the births of the person’s brothers and sisters.
* Search for the marriage record of his or her parents. The marriage record will often lead to the birth records of the parents. Marriage records usually give the birthplace or the place of residence and marital status. Some records like the Amsterdam marriage intentions are more informative.
* Estimate the ages of the parents, and search for their birth records.
* Use the above three strategies for both the father and the mother.
* If earlier generations are not in the record you are using, search neighboring towns and other denominations.
* Search the burial registers for all family members.


[[Category:Netherlands]]<br>
[[Category:Netherlands_Church_Records]] [[Category:Church_Records_by_Country]]

Latest revision as of 18:00, 21 May 2024


Netherlands Wiki Topics
Flag of Netherlands
Netherlands Beginning Research
Record Types
Netherlands Background
Netherlands Genealogical Word Lists
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources

For information about records for non-Christian religions in the Netherlands, go to the Religious Records page.

Online Resources

Netherlands Church Records

Church records (DTB) are the main sources for births, marriages and deaths in the Netherlands between about 1550 and 1811.They recorded baptisms (or circumcisions), marriages and burials and sometimes confirmations, membership records and conversions.

In the late 1500s Churches began to mandate that registers of baptisms and marriages were kept. Burials were often not recorded at first. Records do not always exist for the period before 1700.

Records kept by Catholics are written in Latin. Most other records will be written in Dutch.

The main types of Church records are

  • Dopen (Baptisms)
  • Trouwen (Marriages)
  • Begraven (Burials)
  • Lidmaten (List of Parish Members)


Church records are arranged by religion. Most people in the Netherlands belonged to either the Dutch Reformed (Nederduits Gereformeerd) or Roman Catholic Churches. Some belonged to other religions such as Lutherans or Mennonites (Doopsgezinde) or were Jews (Jooden). See the page Netherlands Church History for more information about different religions in the Netherlands.

Church records are crucial for pre-1811 Dutch research. Church records continued to be kept after the introduction of civil registration, but are not kept by the FamilySearch Library and are generally difficult to access. After 1811 they were mostly superseded by Civil Registration.

Information in Records

Baptisms (Dopen)

From about 1550 onwards, Churches started to keep registers of infants that had been baptized. Catholics were usually baptized within two days of birth. Protestants may have waited until a Sunday. Mennonites/Doopsgezinden only baptized adults.

Earlier registers typically give less information, sometimes including only the child’s and father’s names and the baptism date. Earlier records do not always name the mother, or give only her first name.

Because of social conditions in the Netherlands, the birth of illegitimate children was not uncommon.


The Following information will usually be found in a baptism record:

  • The name of the baptized
  • The date of the baptism, and sometimes the date of birth
  • The name of the parents, or at least the father's name
  • The name of the witnesses or godparents
  • The place of birth and/or baptism
  • Whether the child was legitimate or illegitimate

Remember, not all of this information will always be there, especially the names of witnesses and the place/date of birth. The main date on the record will be that of the baptism, not the birth. Most baptism records do not have a birth date.


Examples

  • Example 1

    Example 1

  • Example 2

    Example 2

  • Example 3

    Example 3

Confirmations (Communicanten)

Catholics have their First Communion at age 6 or 7 and their Second Communion at age 12. Protestants have their confirmation at about age 15. Most confirmation registers merely list the names of those being confirmed and the confirmation date.

Marriages (Trouwen)

Marriage registers list all newly married couples. They started to be kept in the late 1500s. To be married in the Netherlands, marriage banns (ondertrouwen) had to be posted for three weeks in every town recently resided in by either or both of the groom and bride. Then could they marry in the Dutch Reformed (Nederduitse Gereformeerde: NG) Church or before the court or civil authorities (schepenstrouwen or gerechtstrouwen), usually in the residence of the bride. In most towns it was standard for everyone to marry before the NG Church, but in some places (e.g. Haarlem, Culemborg) civil marriages were the norm for those not a member of the NG Church. From 1795 onward civil marriages became mandatory. Only after this they were permitted to marry in the church of another religion. Thus you will often find multiple records of banns and marriages for the same couple.

After marriage they usually went to live in the residence place of the groom. Typically the groom was a few years old than the bride. The average age at first marriage in the Netherlands was very high for the times, with grooms often aged around thirty.

It is important to note that records of banns and the actual marriage are almost always included together. If the marriage was recorded separately to the banns, the record often includes names only and is not worth pursuing. Catholic marriage registers often only contain names.

The following information may be found in a pre-1811 entry:

  • The names of the bride and groom
  • The date of the marriage
  • Whether they were single (usually written j.m. or j.d.), widowed or divorced at the time of marriage. Any previous spouses may be named.
  • The names of the witnesses
  • The place of their births (or where they were residing when married)
  • The date of the marriage proclamations or banns
  • If the groom was a member of the military, the regiment or name of the commanding officer

In some registers, especially after 1794 and in Amsterdam, the following may be recorded.

  • The names of their parents
  • The date of their births (or their age at the time of marriage)
  • Their occupation

Marriage Supplements (Trouwbijlagen)

Especially after 1794 there may be marriage supplements. These will contain evidence of deaths of former spouses and the names of parents (for parental consent). Other information may be found.

Marriage Tax (Impost op Trouwen)

In the province of Holland (now Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland) a tax on marriages was imposed from 1695 to 1805. If you do not locate your ancestor’s marriage in any other source, look in the marriage tax records. They are also useful for determing how wealthy there were. See the "Taxation" section for more information.

Marriage contracts and banns (Huwelijksaangaanen en bijlagen)

Content: Couples’ names, marriage intention dates, residences, occupations, witnesses’ names, often parents’ names and sometimes other relationships.

Burials (Begraven)

Burials were recorded in the parish where the person was buried. The burial usually took place within a few days of death. In some places burial records started long before baptisms and marriages but in most places they start quite late, often well into the 1700s. In most places people of all religions had to be buried in the Dutch Reformed Church or in the Catholic Church, depending on which was dominant in that town. From 1806-1811 there were civil burial records called registers van aangegeven lijken, usually cataloged with church burial records.

The following information will usually be found in a burial record

  • The date of burial
  • The name of the deceased
  • The spouse of the deceased
  • The age, especially if the deceased is a child
  • The parents if the deceased is a child
  • The tax paid, which was determined by their wealth and ability to pay

Some records, especially later records after 1794 may contain

  • Cause of death
  • Place of residence or death


Church account books [kerkrekeningen] often give details about burials.

Membership Records (Lidmaten)

Some churches, especially in the Dutch Reformed religion, kept a record of their members. The records contain members’ names, dates of confessions of faith, and dates of arrival from other parishes. They may also contain death dates, dates members left the parish, communion lists, or names of those partaking of the sacrament or attending catechism school. The records of members arriving or departing are of great value as they mention the town or parish the member came from or moved to, which helps to then locate further records.

Membership records are usually in the archive of the church council [kerkeraad] of the parish. Sometimes they are part of the baptism or marriage register.

Church Council Minutes (Kerkeraadshandelingen)

Minutes of the church council can provide important information about your ancestor. They usually contain ministers’ names and dates of service, appointments of elders and other parish officials, disciplinary actions, names of fathers of illegitimate children, and money paid for the poor.

Certificates of indemnity or surety [akten van indemniteit] were sometimes issued to church members moving to a new town. The certificates guaranteed that the former parish would receive the people back in case they became poor.

Finding Netherlands Church Records

Catholic Dioceses in the Netherlands

Online Records

Essentially all Netherlands Church records from before 1811 are now online. This section gives instructions on where to find them and how to search them.

  1. To find out what records have survived, the best place to start is the website of the regional archive that holds the records. See below for regional sites, or consult the Wiki page for your province. See also the Inventories section below.
  2. Use a search engine. WieWasWie and OpenArch have national coverage.
  3. Search next for a published transcription or alphabetical index, often found on GeneaKnowHow or FamilySearch, or try a Google search.
  4. If all these do not exist or you fail to find what you are looking for, you will have to browse images manually. Use FamilySearch or Van Papier Naar Digitaal (VPND).
  5. Genealogie Werkbalk can help to find the correct set of images on FamilySearch.

Regional Sites

The following sites contain Church records. They are mostly regional and provincial archives. The data may also be available on OpenArch or WieWasWie

Noord-Holland
Amsterdam
 Search on the site of the Stadsarchief Amsterdam.
Alkmaar Search on the site of the Regionaal Archief Alkmaar
West-Friesland
 Search on the site of the West-Fries Archief
Waterland
 Some are transcribed on the site of Waterlands Archief,
Haarlem Limited coverage at Noord-Hollands Archief
Zuid-Holland
Leiden (and Oegstgeest)
 Search on the site of Erfgoed Leiden en omstreken
Rijnlands Midden
 Streekarchief Rijnlands Midden was closed by 1/1/2017.

The municipality of Alphen aan den Rijn has set up an own municipal archive: Municipal Archives Alphen aan den Rijn.
The municipalities of Kaag and Braassem and Nieuwkoop have placed their archives in the archive of Leiden and surrounding areas.

Midden Holland
 Search on the site of the Streekarchief Midden Holland
Rotterdam
 Search on the site of the Rotterdam Stadsarchief
Delft
 Search on the site of the Delft Archief
Den Haag
 Search on the site of the Haags Archief
Dordrecht
 Search on the site of the Regionaal Archief Dordrecht
Utrecht
 Search on Het Utrechts Archief
Gelderland
Search on the site of Gelders Archief
Nijmegen Search on the site of Regionaal Archief Nijmegen
Rivierenland Search or browse on Regionaal Archief Rivierenland
Noord-Brabant
 		Search on the site of BHIC
Limburg Search on the site of AlleLimburgers
Overijssel Browse on the site of Historisch Centrum Overijssel
Zwolle
 Search in the Generale Index Zwolle
Kampen Limited coverage at Stadsarchief Kampen
Enschede Search on the site of Stadsarchief Enschede
Friesland
 Search on the site AlleFriezen
Drenthe
 		Search on AlleDrenten
Groningen
 Search on AlleGroningers

.

FamilySearch Catalog

A very small number of church records were not included in the historical record collections and Genealogie Werkbalk. Also, some transcripts and indexes compiled by individuals or societies might be found here. For these records you must use the FamilySearch catalog.

a. Click on this link to see a list of records for Netherlands.
b. Click on "Places within Netherlands" and a list of provinces will appear. Select your province.
c. A list of municipalities will open. Click on the place you wish to search.
d. Click on Church Records--Indexes, if available. See what indexes might assist you, but always verify information in the original records.
e. Next, click on Church Records to see the original records. "Hervormde Kerkelijke" is the Dutch Reformed Church and "Katholieke Kerkelijke" is the Catholic Church. Unless you know the family's religion, search both.
f. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
g. Choose the correct event and time period for your ancestor. "Dopen" are baptisms. "Trouwen" are marriages. "Overlijden" are deaths. "Communie" are communion records. '"Lidmaten" are membership lists. "Klappers" are indexes.
h.. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record. FHL icons.png. The magnifying glass indicates that the microfilm is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the microfilm.

Inventories

Church record inventories are essential tools for finding Dutch records. They identify records that are available, their location, and the years they cover.

The CBG (Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie) has posted "Repertorium DTB", a nationwide inventory of Netherlands church records, by Willem Wijnaendts van Resandt. It can be downloaded as a .pdf file at Repertorium DTB.

For specific places or provinces, use the applicable archives inventory feature. It will list in an ordered manner all the records held by the archive. Available online images and indexes are usually indicated there.

Gazetteers

To use church records, you must know both your ancestor’s religion and the town where he or she lived.

Some gazetteers indicate parish jurisdictions. For more information, see the "Gazetteers" section and the section above, which discusses church record inventories.

A small village that did not have its own church was usually assigned to a parish in a nearby larger town. Consequently, your ancestor may have lived in one village but belonged to a parish in another town. This is particularly true of Roman Catholic parishes. In predominant Dutch Reformed Church areas, Roman Catholic records include people for a wide area.

Search Strategies and Tips

  • Huguenots/Wallonia Reformed and a few French Catholics wrote their records in French. See French Wordlist.
  • Mothers will almost certainly be referred to by their maiden name but this is not always true for witnesses/sponsors/godparents.
  • Don't assume people went to the nearest church, especially in rural areas. Always search the neighboring towns.
  • Names in Catholic records will be Latinised, especially first names. For example Hendrik Bakker may become Hendricus Pistorius.
  • Remember that some names are very common (e.g. Jan Jansz). Don't assume that just because their names are the same that they are the same people. If there are multiple people born around the same time that you cannot distinguish, use these tips:
    • Look at the names of their parents and their mothers' maiden name.
    • Look at the names of the witnesses to their marriages and the baptisms of their children. These are often siblings.
    • Look at burial records to see if any of them died as a baby or child.
  • Sometimes Baptisms and Marriages were recorded in the same book.
  • Ondertrouwen (The Marriage banns) were recorded in the residences of both the bride and groom, but the actual marriage was recorded only in the residence of the bride.
  • Everyone had to marry before the Dutch Reformed Church or court. They could then marry in their own religion but did not always, due to legal reasons.
  • The Marriage banns system only applies to marriages in the Dutch Reformed Church. For other religions there will only be one marriage - in the residence of the bride
  • The first child was often born illegitimately or within 9 months of marriage. It is rare for a couple to be childless 2 years after marriage.
  • Gaps between children tend to be 12-24 months while the woman is young, but stretch out to as much as every 5 years when she is older.
  • Be aware of naming traditions. The first son should be named after the father's father and the first daughter after the mother's mother. The second son and second daughter should be named after the other two grandparents.
  • Unless two of the grandparents had the same name, two siblings alive at the same time should not have the same given name. If two children in a family received the same name, it probably means the elder died.
  • Always search for all the siblings in a family so that you can use the above two points and for the witnesses/godparents who were usually relatives.
  • Be sure you know where you get information from. Note down the precise church. Note the number of the record (inventory number) and the name of the parish.
Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=Netherlands_Church_Records&oldid=5751122"