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Belgium Civil Registration: Difference between revisions

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==How to Find the Records==


From the seventeenth and eighteenth century onwards, baptisms, marriages and burials were recorded in Church Records. Most people were Catholic, but a small majority were Protestant.
==Online Resources==
 
''Belgium''<br>
After Napoleonic conquest, Belgium was directly incorporated into the French Empire. In 1795-1796, Civil Registration was introduced as a replacement for Church Records. Births, Marriages and Deaths were now recorded by the state.
*'''1560-1890''' {{RecordSearch|1520562|Belgium Births and Baptisms, 1560-1890}} at FamilySearch — [[Belgium Births and Baptisms - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; partial index & images
 
*'''1563-1890''' {{RecordSearch|1520579|Belgium Marriages, 1563-1890}} at FamilySearch — [[Belgium Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; partial index & images<br>
As for the more recent records, the locality keeps one copy and the other copies are turned over to the State Archives (Algemeen Rijksarchief/Archives Générales du Royaume in Brussels, or Rijksarchief in de Provinciën/Archives de l'État in the provinces). Researchers can access them by writing to:
*'''1564-1900''' {{RecordSearch|1520580|Belgium Deaths and Burials, 1564-1900}} at FamilySearch — [[Belgium Deaths and Burials - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; partial index & images
 
*'''1795-1910''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30140/belgium-civil-registration-1795-1910 Belgium, Civil Registration, 1795-1910] at [https://www.myheritage.com/ My Heritage] ($) - index
'''Algemeen Rijksarchief''' Ruisbroekstraat&nbsp;2<br>Brussels 1000<br>BELGIUM<br>Telephone: 32 2 513 76 80<br>Fax: 32 2 513 76 81<br>Internet:&nbsp; http://www.ica.org/en/member/archives_generales_du_royaume
*{{RecordSearch|igi|International Genealogical Index (IGI)}} at FamilySearch — [[International Genealogical Index (IGI) - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; partial index & images
 
*[http://www.brussels.be/artdet.cfm/7545 Birth,Death,Marriage,Divorce and Other Certificate procedures]
* [https://genealogie.arch.be/search/ Church and Civil Records] at Belgium State Archives; index & images ($)
<br>
''Antwerp''<br>
*'''1588-1913''' {{RecordSearch|2138481|Belgium, Antwerp, Civil Registration, 1588-1913}}, at FamilySearch — [[Belgium, Antwerp, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; partial index & images
*'''1588-1913''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20089/belgium-antwerp-civil-registration-of-births?s=275764761 Belgium, Antwerp, Civil Registration of Births] at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
*'''1800-1910''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20159/belgium-antwerp-civil-registration-of-marriages?s=275764761 Belgium, Antwerp, Civil Registration of Marriages] at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
*'''1588-1913''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20083/belgium-antwerp-civil-registration-of-deaths?s=275764761 Belgium, Antwerp, Civil Registration of Deaths] at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
<br>
''Brabant - includes Walloon Brabant, Flemish Brabant, and Brussels-Capital Region''
*'''1582-1897''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20085/belgium-brabant-civil-registration-of-deaths?s=275764761 Belgium, Brabant, Civil Registration of Deaths] at MyHeritage — images ($)
*'''1582-1914''' {{RecordSearch|1482191|Belgium, Brabant, Civil Registration, 1582-1914}} at FamilySearch — [[Belgium, Brabant, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; partial index & images
<br>
''East Flanders''<br>
*'''1541-1950''' {{RecordSearch|2138513|Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, 1541-1950}} at FamilySearch - [[Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; partial index  & images
*'''1541-1950''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20091/belgium-east-flanders-civil-registration-of-births?s=275764761 Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration of Births] at MyHeritage - partial index & images ($)
*'''1796-1961''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20158/belgium-east-flanders-civil-registration-of-marriages?s=275764761 Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration of Marriages] at MyHeritage - partial index & images ($)
*[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20079/belgium-east-flanders-civil-registration-of-deaths?s=275764761 Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration of Deaths] at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
<br>  
<br>  
''Hainaut''<br>
*'''1600-1913''' {{RecordSearch|2138500|Belgium, Hainaut, Civil Registration, 1600-1913}} at FamilySearch - [[Belgium, Hainaut, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; partial index & images
*'''1600-1913''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20120/belgium-hainaut-civil-registration-of-births?s=275764761 Belgium, Hainaut, Civil Registration Of Births] at MyHeritage - index ($)
*'''1781-1998''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20168/belgium-hainaut-civil-registration-of-marriages?s=275764761 Belgium, Hainaut, Civil Registration of Marriages] at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
*'''1780-1900''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20122/belgium-hainaut-civil-registration-of-deaths?s=275764761 Belgium, Hainaut, Civil Registration of Deaths] at MyHeritage - index ($)
<br>
''Liège''<br>
*'''1590-1947''' {{RecordSearch|4439347|Belgium, Liège, Church and Civil Registration, 1590-1947}} at FamilySearch - [[Belgium, Liège, Church and Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; partial index & images
*'''1621-1914''' {{RecordSearch|2138505|Belgium, Liège, Civil Registration, 1621-1914}} at FamilySearch - [[Belgium, Liège, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; partial index & images
*'''1621-1914''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20117/belgium-liege-civil-registration-of-births?s=275764761 Belgium, Liège, Civil Registration Of Births ] at MyHeritage - index ($)
*'''1774-1900''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20157/belgium-liege-civil-registration-of-marriages?s=275764761 Belgium, Liège, Civil Registration of Marriages] at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
*'''1796-1901''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20118/belgium-liege-civil-registration-of-deaths?s=275764761 Belgium, Liège, Civil Registration of Deaths] at MyHeritage - index ($)
*'''1808-1910''' [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/1867437Belgium, Liège, Pièces de mariage, (marriages) 1808-1910](*) at FamilySearch Catalog
*'''1814-1870, 1896''' [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/2109995 Belgium, Liège, Verviers Arrondissement, civil registration, 1814-1870, 1896](*) at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images<br>
<br>
''Limburg''<br>
*'''1668-1875''' {{RecordSearch|4147974|Belgium, Limburg, Lommel, Civil Registration and Church Records, 1668-1875}} at FamilySearch - [[Belgium, Limburg, Lommel, Civil Registration and Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; partial index & images
*'''1787-1915''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20141/belgium-limburg-civil-registration-of-deaths?s=275764761 Belgium, Limburg, Civil Registration of Deaths] at MyHeritage - index ($)
*'''1798-1906''' {{RecordSearch|2138507|Belgium, Limburg, Civil Registration, 1798-1906}} at FamilySearch - [[Belgium, Limburg, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; partial indexindex
*'''1798-1906''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20093/belgium-limburg-civil-registration-of-births?s=275764761 Belgium, Limburg, Civil Registration of Births] at MyHeritage - index ($)
*'''1798-1922''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20176/belgium-limburg-civil-registration-of-marriages?s=275764761 Belgium, Limburg, Civil Registration of Marriages] at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
<br>
''Luxembourg''<br>
*'''1580-1920''' {{RecordSearch|2138510|Belgium, Luxembourg, Civil Registration, 1580-1920}} at FamilySearch — [[Belgium, Luxembourg, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; partial index & images
<br>
''Namur''<br>
*'''1776-Onward''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20506/belgium-namur-civil-registration-of-births?s=275764761 Belgium, Namur, Civil Registration of Births] at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
*'''1800-1912''' {{RecordSearch|2138511|Belgium, Namur, Civil Registration, 1800-1912}} at FamilySearch — [[Belgium, Namur, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; partial index & images
*'''1800-1912''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20155/belgium-namur-civil-registration-of-marriages?s=275764761 Belgium, Namur, Civil Registration of Marriages] at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
*'''1800-1912''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20086/belgium-namur-civil-registration-of-deaths?s=275764761 Belgium, Namur, Civil Registration of Deaths] at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
<br>
''West Flanders''<br>
*'''1582-1910''' {{RecordSearch|2139860|Belgium, West Flanders, Civil Registration, 1582-1910}} at FamilySearch — [[Belgium, West Flanders, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; partial index & images


== Contents  ==


'''Births:''' Child’s name, birth date and place; parents’ names, residence, and occupation, witnesses’ ages, relationships, residences; yearly indexes.  
==== State Archives Digital Images ====
Civil registration digital images are also online from the State Archives of Belgium (''Rijksarchief in België/Les Archives de l'Etat en Belgique'') has images and some indexes for records at least 100 years old. Free [https://search.arch.be/en/login/registration registration] is required to view the records. The site comes in English, French, German or Dutch.


'''Marriages:''' Bride and groom names, ages, residences, occupations; sometimes ages and/or birth dates and places, parents' names, marriage date and place, residences, occupations, witnesses and officer who performed ceremony, former spouses, yearly indexes.  
*[https://genealogie.arch.be/ Browsable Images]
*[https://search.arch.be/en/zoeken-naar-personen Search by Person - Incomplete Indexes]
*[http://search.arch.be/nl/zoeken-naar-archieven Search by Location - Incomplete Indexes]


'''Marriage proclamations:''' Names of prospective marriage partners, intentions, residences, parents, etc.  
==== Arrangement and Indexes ====
Many smaller towns put births, marriages and deaths all together in chronological order, while later records and those from larger towns and cities usually divide the records into births, marriages and deaths separately.<br> 
<br>
There should be a handwritten index at the end of each year for each record type. Additionally, a ten-year index (''tienjarige tafel / table décennale'') was created indexing all births, marriages, and deaths in the municipality in either strict alphabetical order or organized by beginning letter then chronologically. The index provides the year, then either the act number, the date of the event, or the date of the registration of the event. You can then use these indexes to locate the original record. These indexes can be found at the State Archives or FamilySearch.


'''Marriage supplements:''' Names of marriage partners, documents showing proofs of births, parents, deaths, prior marriages or divorces, proclamations, consents, contracts, etc.  
==== GeneaKnowHow ====
[http://geneaknowhow.net/digi/bronnen.html Geneaknowhow] is a site that provides links to various local genealogical sites for Belgium and the Netherlands, including many containing civil registration records.


'''Death registers:''' Name of deceased, age, death date and place, occupation, name of surviving spouse, informant’s name and residence, cause of death, sometimes birth dates and places, parents’ names, children’s names, yearly indexes.
===Offices to Contact===


'''Divorces:''' Listed on the back of the marriage registers in the municipality where the marriage took place. Includes names, ages, dates and places, occupations, residences.
For the more recent records (after 1915), the locality keeps one copy and the other copies are turned over to the State Archives (Algemeen Rijksarchief/Archives Générales du Royaume in Brussels, or Rijksarchief in de Provinciën/Archives de l'État in the provinces). Researchers can access them by contacting: <br>
 
<br>
'''Multi-Year-Indexes:''' Additional two, three, five and ten year indexes to births, marriages, divorces and deaths. Some are alphabetical, others chronological, by first letter of the surname, all letters, given names, etc.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Belgium,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1987-1999.</ref>
'''The National Archives'''<br>
 
Algemeen Rijksarchief Ruisbroekstraat 2<br>
The records are organized in different ways, depending on the time frame and location of the record. The records will be either in [[Netherlands Language and Languages|Dutch]], [[French Genealogical Word List|French]], or [[German Word List|German]].
Brussels 1000<br>
 
BELGIUM<br>
Some towns record all the events in chronological order, regardless of the type of event. However, the records are numbered according to their type. Other places use a “chapter format” for every year: One chapter for the births, one for the marriages, and one for the the deaths.
Telephone: 32 2 513 76 80<br>
 
Fax: 32 2 513 76 81<br>
If the records are not numbered, look for a page number. Be aware that pages are sometimes numbered on one side only (right side). Therefore, they are found in the index as “Recto” (Front) and “Verso” (Back).
[https://search.arch.be/en/ Website]
 
Yearly indexes are available in most cases, but sometimes you have to work with ten-year indexes. These will either precede or follow the actual records. Yearly indexes changed over time, especially the Marriage ones. At first the clerk only alphabetized the grooms. In this case it may be necessary to read each entry so as not to miss the bride. Later, however, all spouses are alphabetized in one list, which greatly simplifies research.
 
If the records are combined, you will find them indexed in categories at the end of the year. These indexes make it much easier to sift through the records, but be mindful of multiple spellings. This is especially important with your emigrant ancestors, whose names were often changed either on purpose or through the emigration process.
 
== Accessing the Records ==
Civil Registration records were traditionally accessed from the archives in person, but now most(but not all) can be found on FamilySearch/[[Zoekakten]], or online at the website of the [http://search.arch.be/nl Rijksarchief in België]. Note that free registration is required for the Rijksarchief's website. It is still possible to access records in person from archives are listed in the section 'Provincial Archives"
 
FamilySearch has recently began indexing some records. Aside from this, there is no central database to search all Belgium civil registration at the same time. 
 
[http://geneaknowhow.net/digi/bronnen.html Geneaknowhow] is a site that provides links to various local genealogical sites for Belgium and the Netherlands, including many containing civil registration records.
 
== Provincial Archives  ==
For the more recent records, the locality keeps one copy and the other copies are turned over to the State Archives (Algemeen Rijksarchief/Archives Générales du Royaume in Brussels, or Rijksarchief in de Provinciën/Archives de l'État in the provinces). Researchers can access them by writing to:
 
'''[http://www.ica.org/en/member/archives_generales_du_royaume Algemeen Rijksarchief]''' <br>Ruisbroekstraat&nbsp;2<br>Brussels 1000<br>BELGIUM<br>Telephone: 32 2 513 76 80<br>Fax: 32 2 513 76 81
 
'''[http://www.arch.be/ Algemeen Rijksarchief Brussel / Archives Générales du Royaume]'''
 
Rijksarchief te Antwerpen<br>Door Verstraeteplein 5<br>Antwerpen B-2018<br>BELGIUM<br>Telephone: 32 (0)3 236 73 00<br>Fax: 32 (0)3 236 73 00<br>Email: Rijksarchief.Antwerpen@arch.be
 
==== Brabant  ====
 
===== Rijksarchief te Leuven  =====
 
College van Villers<br>Vaartstraat 24-26<br>Leuven B-3000<br>BELGIUM<br>Telephone: 32 (0)16 31 49 54<br>Fax: 32 (0)16 31 49 61<br>Email: Rijksarchief.Leuven@arch.be
 
==== Brussels Capital Region  ====
 
Rijksarchief te Anderlecht / Archives de l'Etat à Anderlecht<br>Demetskaai 7<br>Anderlecht B-1070<br>BELGIUM<br>Telephone: 32 (0)2 524 61 15<br>Fax: 32 (0)2 520 93 21<br>Email: Rijksarchief.Anderlecht@arch.be
 
==== East Flanders / Oost-Vlaanderen / Flandre Orientale  ====
 
===== Rijksarchief te Beveren  =====
 
Kruibekesteenweg 39/1<br>Beveren-Waas B-9120<br>BELGIUM<br>Telephone: 32 (0)3 750 29 77<br>Fax: 32 (0)3 750 29 70<br>Email: Rijksarchief.Beveren@arch.be
 
===== Rijksarchief te Gent  =====
 
Geraard de Duivelstraat 1<br>B-9000 Gent<br>Telephone: 32 (0)9 225 13 38<br>Fax: 32 (0)9 225 13 38<br>Email: Rijksarchief.Gent@arch.be
 
===== Rijksarchief te Ronse  =====
 
Van Hovestraat 45<br>Ronse B-9600<br>BELGIUM<br>Telephone: 32 (0)55 21 19 83<br>Fax: 32 (0)55 21 19 83<br>Email: Rijksarchief.Ronse@arch.be
 
==== Hainault / Henegouwen / Hainaut  ====
 
===== Archives de l'État à Mons (Bergen)<br>  =====
 
Avenue des Bassins 66
 
Mons B-7000<br>BELGIUM<br>Telephone: 32 (0)65 40 04 60<br>Fax: 32 (0)65 40 04 61<br>Email: Archives.Mons@arch.be
 
===== Archives de l'État à Tournai (Doornik)  =====
 
Place Paul-Emile Janson 3<br>Tournai B-7500<br>BELGIUM<br>Telephone: 32 (0)69 22 53 76<br>Fax: 32 (0)69 54 54 83<br>Email: Archives.Tournai@arch.be
 
<br>
 
==== Limburg / Limburg / Limbourg  ====
 
===== Rijksarchief te Hasselt  =====
 
Bampslaan 4<br>Hasselt B-3500<br>BELGIUM<br>Telephone: 32 (0)11 22 17 66<br>Fax: 32 (0)11 23 40 46<br>Email: Rijksarchief.Hasselt@arch.be  
 
==== Liege / Luik / Liège  ====
 
===== Staatsarchiv Eupen  =====


Kaperberg 2-4<br>Eupen B-4700<br>BELGIUM<br>Telephone: 32 (0)87 55 87 77<br>Fax: 32 (0)87 55 87 77<br>Email: Staatsarchiv.Eupen@arch.be
==Historical Background==


===== Archives de l'État à Huy  =====
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.


Ancien Couvent des Frères Mineurs<br>rue Vankeerberghen 20<br>Huy B-5200<br>BELGIUM<br>Telephone: 32 (0)85 21 53 95<br>Fax: 32 (0)85 21 53 95<br>Email: Archives.Huy@arch.be
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]].


===== Archives de l'État à Liège  =====
==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>


Rue du Chéra 79<br>Liège B-4000<br>BELGIUM<br>Telephone: 32 (0)4 252 03 93<br>Fax: 32 (0)4 229 33 50<br>Email: Archives.Liege@arch.be
Access to records in Belgium is unrestricted to for the following record types and years:  
*Births: 100 years
*Marriages: 75 years
*Deaths: 50 years


==== Luxemburg / Luxemburg / Luxembourg  ====
Records later than these time periods are not open to the general public.


===== Archives de l'État à Arlon  =====
==Information Recorded in the Records==


Parc des Expositions<br>Arlon B-6700<br>BELGIUM<br>Telephone: 32 (0)63 22 06 13<br>Fax: 32 (0)63 22 06 13<br>Email: Archives.Arlon@arch.be
===Birth Records===
A typical Belgium birth record contains:  


===== Archives de l'État à Saint-Hubert  =====
*The child's name
*The birth place and date
*The names of the parents, their residence, occupations, sometimes ages
*The name of the informant, their occupation and sometimes age and relationship to the child


Ancienne Abbaye - Quartier Abbatial<br>Place de l'Abbaye<br>Saint-Hubert B-6870<br>BELGIUM<br>Telephone: 32 (0)61 61 14 55<br>Fax: 32 (0)61 61 14 55<br>Email: Archives.Saint-Hubert@arch.be
[[File:Belgium, Antwerpen, Civil Registration (13-0013) Birth Record DGS 4253585 320.jpg|thumb|A Dutch birth record]]


==== Namur / Namen / Namur  ====
===Marriage Records===
A typical Belgium marriage record contains:
*Names of the bride and groom
*Place and Date of the marriage
*Their ages, residences, occupations and birthplaces.
*The names of their parents, their occupations and sometimes ages or whether still alive, sometimes marriage information, residences, and occupations
*Any former spouses
*Witnesses, and their occupations, and who performed the ceremony


===== Archives de l'État à Namur  =====
'''Marriage Supplements''' may contain
*Names of bride and groom
*Documents of birth or baptism records of the bride and groom
*Documents proving parents
*Documents of the deaths of the parents of the bride and groom
*Deaths of or divorces from former spouses
*Consent from the parents


Rue d'Arquet 45<br>Namur B-5000<br>BELGIUM<br>Telephone: 32 (0)81 22 34 98<br>Fax: 32 (0)81 65 41 99
'''Marriage proclamations''' may contain:  
*Names of prospective marriage partners
*Their residence, age, occupation
*Their intended date of marriage
*Their parents


==== West Flanders / West-Vlaanderen / Flandre<br>Occidentale  ====
[[File:Belgium, Antwerpen, Civil Registration (13-0013) Marriage Record DGS 4253613 399.jpg|thumb|A Dutch marriage record]]


===== Rijksarchief te Brugge  =====
===Death Records===
Academiestraat 14-18<br>Brugge B-8000<br>BELGIUM<br>Telephone: 32 (0)50 33 72 88<br>Fax: 32 (0)50 33 72 88<br>Email: Rijksarchief.Brugge@arch.be
A typical Belgium death record contains;


===== Rijksarchief te Kortrijk  =====
*Name of deceased,
*Their death date and place
*Their age, birthplace, occupation
*Their current and former spouses
*Cause of death
*Names of their parents, if known
*Children's names
*Name of the informant and their residence


Guido Gezellestraat 1<br>Kortrijk B-8500<br>BELGIUM<br>Telephone: 32 (0)56 21 32 68<br>Fax: 32 (0)56 20 57 42<br>Email: Rijksarchief.Kortrijk@arch.be
[[File:Belgium Civil Death Registration (Dutch).jpg|thumb|A Dutch death record]]


==== Online Records ====
===Divorces===
*'''1798-1906''' - {{RecordSearch|2138507|Belgium, Limburg, Civil Registration, 1798-1906}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — index and images
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.  
*'''1800-1912''' - {{RecordSearch|2138511|Belgium, Namur, Civil Registration, 1800-1912}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/search FamilySearch] — index and images


'''Wiki articles describing these collections are found at:'''
*[[Belgium Births and Baptisms (FamilySearch Historical Records)|Belgium Births and Baptisms (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
*[[Belgium Deaths and Burials (FamilySearch Historical Records)|Belgium Deaths and Burials (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
*[[Belgium Marriages (FamilySearch Historical Records)|Belgium Marriages (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
*[[Belgium National Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)|Belgium National Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]


== References  ==
== References  ==
 
{{reflist}}  
{{reflist}}  


[[Category:Belgium|Civil]]
[[Category:Belgium|Civil]] [[Category:Civil Registration]]
 
<br>

Latest revision as of 12:43, 11 June 2024


Belgium Wiki Topics
Flag of Belgium
Belgium Beginning Research
Record Types
Belgium Background
Belgium Genealogical Word Lists
Local Research Resources

How to Find the Records

Online Resources

Belgium


Antwerp


Brabant - includes Walloon Brabant, Flemish Brabant, and Brussels-Capital Region


East Flanders


Hainaut


Liège


Limburg


Luxembourg


Namur


West Flanders


State Archives Digital Images

Civil registration digital images are also online from the State Archives of Belgium (Rijksarchief in België/Les Archives de l'Etat en Belgique) has images and some indexes for records at least 100 years old. Free registration is required to view the records. The site comes in English, French, German or Dutch.

Arrangement and Indexes

Many smaller towns put births, marriages and deaths all together in chronological order, while later records and those from larger towns and cities usually divide the records into births, marriages and deaths separately.

There should be a handwritten index at the end of each year for each record type. Additionally, a ten-year index (tienjarige tafel / table décennale) was created indexing all births, marriages, and deaths in the municipality in either strict alphabetical order or organized by beginning letter then chronologically. The index provides the year, then either the act number, the date of the event, or the date of the registration of the event. You can then use these indexes to locate the original record. These indexes can be found at the State Archives or FamilySearch.

GeneaKnowHow

Geneaknowhow is a site that provides links to various local genealogical sites for Belgium and the Netherlands, including many containing civil registration records.

Offices to Contact

For the more recent records (after 1915), the locality keeps one copy and the other copies are turned over to the State Archives (Algemeen Rijksarchief/Archives Générales du Royaume in Brussels, or Rijksarchief in de Provinciën/Archives de l'État in the provinces). Researchers can access them by contacting:

The National Archives
Algemeen Rijksarchief Ruisbroekstraat 2
Brussels 1000
BELGIUM
Telephone: 32 2 513 76 80
Fax: 32 2 513 76 81
Website

Historical Background

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 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 Online Digital Records for Civil Registration below and also on word lists for: Dutch, French and German.

Coverage and Compliance

"Vital records are on file from 1796, and the current registration is considered to be comprehensive."[1]

Access to records in Belgium is unrestricted to for the following record types and years:

  • Births: 100 years
  • Marriages: 75 years
  • Deaths: 50 years

Records later than these time periods are not open to the general public.

Information Recorded in the Records

Birth Records

A typical Belgium birth record contains:

  • The child's name
  • The birth place and date
  • The names of the parents, their residence, occupations, sometimes ages
  • The name of the informant, their occupation and sometimes age and relationship to the child
A Dutch birth record

Marriage Records

A typical Belgium marriage record contains:

  • Names of the bride and groom
  • Place and Date of the marriage
  • Their ages, residences, occupations and birthplaces.
  • The names of their parents, their occupations and sometimes ages or whether still alive, sometimes marriage information, residences, and occupations
  • Any former spouses
  • Witnesses, and their occupations, and who performed the ceremony

Marriage Supplements may contain

  • Names of bride and groom
  • Documents of birth or baptism records of the bride and groom
  • Documents proving parents
  • Documents of the deaths of the parents of the bride and groom
  • Deaths of or divorces from former spouses
  • Consent from the parents

Marriage proclamations may contain:

  • Names of prospective marriage partners
  • Their residence, age, occupation
  • Their intended date of marriage
  • Their parents
A Dutch marriage record

Death Records

A typical Belgium death record contains;

  • Name of deceased,
  • Their death date and place
  • Their age, birthplace, occupation
  • Their current and former spouses
  • Cause of death
  • Names of their parents, if known
  • Children's names
  • Name of the informant and their residence
A Dutch death record

Divorces

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

  1. ↑ Thomas Jay Kemp, “International Vital Records Handbook, 5th Edition,” Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc. Baltimore : 2009.
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