Netherlands, Archival Indexes, Vital Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Netherlands

This collection includes indexed records from across the Netherlands. The records are of many types, including church and civil registration records.

What Is in This Collection?
This collection contains indexes contributed from many archives around the Netherlands. The collection continues to grow as records become available. The indexes were originally collected, combined, and published by OpenArchives. For the entire index collection and more information visit OpenArchives.

This collection contains records of many types. Some of the more common include:
 * Civil registration
 * Church records
 * Emigration lists
 * Military registers
 * Land and tax records.

Coverage Table
For a list of the archives which have contributed to this collection, please use the following link to view the coverage table for the collection:

Netherlands Archival Indexes Coverage Table

Language Help
In this collection, some index entries may include the following Dutch terms: These normally occur in place of an individual's given name. None of these terms should ever be considered an actual name.
 * onbekend, "unknown"
 * Levenloos, "stillborn"
 * een levenloos zoon, "stillborn son"
 * een levenloze dochter, "stillborn daughter"

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following lists indicate potential information provided in civil registration indexes.

Civil registration records are the most common records in this collection. For other record types, it is to be expected that any given record will provide basic information, such as date, place, and the name of the individual in question.

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before searching, it is best to know the following information: As you search, compare your results with this information to find a match.
 * Name of the person
 * Date range for the record

Search the Index

 * 1) Visit the Collection Page
 * 2) Fill in the search box with the requested information
 * 3) Click Search to return a list of possible matches

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?

 * Copy down all the information from the record detail on the results page.
 * Cite the record. See below for assistance citing this collection.
 * OpenArchive may have more information about the record or may even lead you to a record image. To visit this site, click on the "Visit Partner Site" button to the right of the record detail.
 * Family members often appear on an individual's vital records, such as in the role of witnesses to a marriage. Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have lived nearby.
 * Use the information you have found to find more. For instance, use the age listed in a record to estimate a year of birth.

I Can't Find Who I'm Looking for, What Now?

 * Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900.
 * When looking for a person with a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which individual is correct. Use other information, such as place of birth, age, occupation, or names of parents, to determine which candidate is the correct person. If listed, a personal title may be a clue to property ownership or occupation, either of which might be noted in other records.
 * Check for variants of given names and surnames. For much of the period of this collection, spelling was not standardized; pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation. Simple clerical errors were also always possible. Furthermore, individuals were often listed under a middle name, nickname, or abbreviation of their given name. For women, remember that it was not uncommon to revert to a maiden name after the death of a husband.
 * Vary the search terms. For example, search by either the given name or surname to return broader list of possible candidates which can then be examined for matches. Alternatively, try expanding the date range.
 * Search the records of nearby localities. While it was uncommon for an individual in this period to move more than about 20 miles from their place of birth, smaller relocations were not uncommon. Note that marriages usually took place in the parish where the bride resided.
 * Look at the actual image of the record to verify the information found in the online description, if possible.

For additional help searching online collections see FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

Citing this Collection
Proper citations make it easier to get back to sources that you have found, so citing sources properly can help you keep track of research. Correct citations also allow others to check completed research by giving them a way to find and examine records for themselves.

Below are the proper citations to use for this whole collection as well as for individual records within it: Collection Citation

Record Citation: