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Netherlands Church Records: Difference between revisions
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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. | 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. All other records will be written in Dutch. | |||
The main types of Church records are | The main types of Church records are | ||
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== Baptisms [''Dopen''] == | == Baptisms [''Dopen''] == | ||
From about 1550 onwards, Churches started to keep registers of infants that had been | 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 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. | Because of social conditions in the Netherlands, the birth of illegitimate children was not uncommon. | ||
<br> | |||
The Following information will usually be found in a baptism record | |||
The following information may be found in a baptism record: | The following information may be found in a baptism record: | ||
*The name of the | *The name of the baptized | ||
*The date of the baptism, and sometimes the date of birth | *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 parents, or at least the father's name | ||
*The name of the witnesses or godparents | *The name of the witnesses or godparents | ||
*The place of | *The place of birth and/or baptism | ||
*Whether the child was ancestor was legitimate or illegitimate. | *Whether the child was ancestor was legitimate or illegitimate. | ||
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These steps will guide you in finding your ancestor in the christening records | These steps will guide you in finding your ancestor in the christening records | ||
'''Step 1. Find the parish when your ancestor was | '''Step 1. Find the parish when your ancestor was baptized''' | ||
Read the later sections of the article about where the find Netherlands Church records both on- and off- line. | Read the later sections of the article about where the find Netherlands Church records both on- and off- line. | ||
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=== Here are some examples === | === Here are some examples === | ||
<gallery | <gallery widths="160px" heights="120px" perrow="3"> | ||
Image:Doop entry.jpg|Example 1 | Image:Doop entry.jpg|Example 1 | ||
Image:Doop entry 2.jpg|Example 2 | Image:Doop entry 2.jpg|Example 2 | ||
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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. | 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 ['' | == Marriages [''Trouwens'' or ''Huwelijken''] == | ||
Marriage registers list all newly married couples. They started to be kept in the late 1500s. 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, though they usually went to live in the residence place of the groom. Typically, women married for the first time in their early to late twenties. Men typically married for the first time in their mid-twenties to early thirties. | Marriage registers list all newly married couples. They started to be kept in the late 1500s. 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, though they usually went to live in the residence place of the groom. Typically, women married for the first time in their early to late twenties. Men typically married for the first time in their mid-twenties to early thirties. | ||
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=== What You Are Looking For === | === What You Are Looking For === | ||
The following information may be found in a marriage entry: | The following information may be found in a pre-1811 marriage entry: | ||
*The names of the bride and groom | *The names of the bride and groom | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
=== Marriage | === Marriage Banns [''Ondertrouw'']. === | ||
In addition to the actual marriage registers, many churches in the Netherlands kept records of marriage intentions. These records are called 'marriage banns'. Often the marriage intention date and marriage date are recorded in the same register. | In addition to the actual marriage registers, many churches in the Netherlands kept records of marriage intentions. These records are called 'marriage banns'. Often the marriage intention date and marriage date are recorded in the same register. | ||
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== Burials [''Begravens''] == | == Burials [''Begravens''] == | ||
Burials were recorded in the parish where the person was buried. The burial usually took place within a few days of death. | 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. | ||
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 1795 may contain | |||
*Cause of death | |||
*Place of residence or death | |||
Church account books [''kerkrekeningen''] often give details about burials. | Church account books [''kerkrekeningen''] often give details about burials. | ||