Dutch Resources

Civil registration (vital records) started in the Netherlands in the year 1811 – with few exceptions in the far south, where it began in 1795. Civil records are public after 50 years (deaths), 75 years (marriages) or 100 years (births).

Birth Records: These contain the childs name, date and place of birth and the parents (if known). Some records may include notes, for example an illegitimate birth.

Marriage Records: Names of both spouses, the date of marriage, ages or dates of birth, places of birth and residence as well as occupations and names of the parents may be included on marriage records. Parents were required to consent to underage marriages. If the parents were deceased, grandparents could give consent. Some records may include information about a bride or groom’s parents and grandparents in these cases. Earlier records will include four witnesses with later records having just two.

Death records: The name of the deceased and as much information as was known by the informant was recorded in death records. The informant was required to have first-hand knowledge of the death. These records frequently mention age, place of birth, residence, address where the death occurred, occupation, and the names of the parents or spouse. It did not include the cause of death. Relatives, neighbors or (in later records) undertakers often served as informants.

This information was gathered from the article Going Dutch by John Boeren in the March/April 2020 issue of Family Tree Magazine