Netherlands Census: Difference between revisions

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◄ [[The Netherlands|Netherlands Homepage]] <br>  
◄ [[The Netherlands|Netherlands Homepage]] <br>  


== [[Image:Family Picture Netherlands.jpg|thumb|right|350x250px|<center>Netherlands Family Picture</center>]]Census Records  ==
= Census Records  =


A census is a count and description of the population. Censuses are taken by the national government of the Netherlands and also by local and provincial governments. The local censuses are taken primarily for taxation and military purposes.  
A census is a count and description of the population. Censuses are taken by the national government of the Netherlands and also by local and provincial governments. The local censuses are taken primarily for taxation and military purposes.  
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Where available, census records can provide family relationships, ages, years of birth, marital statuses, religions, and places of birth. They can provide information where all or portions of other records are missing. Generally, you will find more complete family information in more recent censuses. Use the information with caution, however; it may have been given to a census taker by any member of the family or a neighbor, and so some information may have been incorrect or deliberately falsified.  
Where available, census records can provide family relationships, ages, years of birth, marital statuses, religions, and places of birth. They can provide information where all or portions of other records are missing. Generally, you will find more complete family information in more recent censuses. Use the information with caution, however; it may have been given to a census taker by any member of the family or a neighbor, and so some information may have been incorrect or deliberately falsified.  


*'''National Censuses.'''
[[Image:Family Picture Netherlands.jpg|thumb|right|350x250px|Family Picture Netherlands.jpg]]
*A great web-site to search for Dutch Census Records is found here:


[http://www.volkstellingen.nl/en/ Dutch Censuses 1795-1971]
== Early Incomplete Censuses and Census Substitutes  ==


One of the first censuses of a national nature were the civil lists [listes civiques] or civil registers [registres civiques] of the French government taken in 1811. These records are housed in the state and municipal archives; however, they contain many mistakes and little information.
=== 18th Century Records  ===


The Kingdom of the Netherlands held its first national census in 1829, and from this time censuses were taken every 10 years until 1929. Censuses were again taken in 1947, 1960, and 1971. Although they are national in nature, these census records are kept locally, usually in the municipal offices. When they are in the municipal archives they are available to the public. Some are on film at the Family History Library.  
The first national census dates from the 19th century but there were earlier provincial or regional census takings.  


*'''Local Censuses.''' Census records exist for the province of Friesland for 1689, 1714, 1744, and 1796. Provincial censuses are also available for Overijssel in 1748 and 1795. Similar records to censuses are lists of citizens (not every resident was a “citizen”) and of able-bodied men, or men able to bear arms, usually from ages 20 to 60.
A Frisian census of 1714 is believed to have been taken throughout the region, but only the registers of Franeker and Barradeel survive.There is little data recorded including the names of the household heads and the total of household members subdivided only into those over and under the age of seven.  


=== Census Records at the Family History Library  ===
The 1744 '''Descriptions of families''' (Omschrijvinge van familiën) survives complete for the whole of Friesland. Again, there is little data: the names of the household heads and the total persons in the household. This has been filmed by the Family History Library: [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/229579 ''Omschrijving van families in Friesland'', 1744].
 
The 1748 census (Volkstelling) for Overijssel survives in its entirety. However, the recording of data was not undertaken in an uniform way: some registers just record the name of the household head whilst others have the names of all the household members. It has been filmed by the Family History Library: [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/33065 Overijssel Nederland, ''Volkstelling'', 1748].
 
The 1749 Frisian ''Recording of families and persons'' (Opteekeninge der familiën en persoonen) is also complete but contains only a little more information than the other early Frisian censuses.
 
A 1749 provincial census of Gelderland contains more information. Recorded was the name of the household head and his occupation; wives are recorded without names as 'his wife' and children and servants are recorded only in total although children are subdivided by age in spans of 5 years. Various tax data is also recorded.
 
Inspired by the French revolution and following the disastrous war against the English, Dutch revolutionaries overthrew the old regime in 1795. The new democratic regime sought to modernise administrative arrangements and undertook a census in parts of the country in 1795. Those records which survive are held by the relevant provincial archive.
 
=== 1811 ''Registre Civique''  ===
 
The modern era of Dutch population record keeping begins under French occupation. In 1811, civil registration begins and the introduction of adult male suffrage under the Code Civil (or Code Napoleon) resulted in the creation of a voters' list (registre civique) by the local authorities (mairie) usually with a copy forwarded to the department. These census substitutes will be found in the municipal and provincial archives.
 
== Decennial Censuses 1829 - 1930  ==
 
A national census was conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs from 1929 to 1889 then by Statistics Netherlands from 1899 to 1930.
 
== Post War Censuses  ==
 
Three national censuses were undertaken by Statistics Netherlands (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek - Central Agency for Statistics) in 1947, 1960 and 1971. This approach was abandonned in favour of a new model: in 1981 and 1991 a "virtual census" was undertaken based on data in the Population Registers and surveys.
 
== Census Records at the Family History Library  ==


The Family History Library has copies of many census records. These are listed in the “Locality Search” section of the catalog under:  
The Family History Library has copies of many census records. These are listed in the “Locality Search” section of the catalog under:  
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NETHERLANDS, [PROVINCE] – CENSUS – 1947 – INDEXES  
NETHERLANDS, [PROVINCE] – CENSUS – 1947 – INDEXES  


NETHERLANDS, [PROVINCE], [TOWN] –CENSUS – 1947 – INDEXES 12
NETHERLANDS, [PROVINCE], [TOWN] –CENSUS – 1947 – INDEXES 12<br>
 
== Aggregated Census Data  ==
 
Documents were compiled from abstracted data collected in a census. These may be accessed at [http://www.volkstellingen.nl/en/ Dutch Censuses 1795-1971].<br>


== External Links  ==
== External Links  ==
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*Etc.
*Etc.


Another type of Population records (per religion) is found at: [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Nederlandgodsdienst1849-en.PNG Religious division in the Netherlands by municipality at the census of 1849]  
Another type of Population records (per religion) is found at: [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Nederlandgodsdienst1849-en.PNG Religious division in the Netherlands by municipality at the census of 1849]<br>  
 
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=== Population Records at the Family History Library  ===
=== Population Records at the Family History Library  ===
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The Family History Library has copies of many census records. These are listed in the “Locality Search” section of the catalog under:  
The Family History Library has copies of many census records. These are listed in the “Locality Search” section of the catalog under:  


NETHERLANDS, [PROVINCE] – CENSUS NETHERLANDS, [PROVINCE], [TOWN]–POPULATION
NETHERLANDS, [PROVINCE] – CENSUS NETHERLANDS, [PROVINCE], [TOWN]–POPULATION  


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[[Category:Netherlands]]
[[Category:Netherlands]]