In 1993, I built my first website while I was a first year Computer Science major. I did not have to think long about a topic: genealogy, what else? Back then, hardly anybody had internet access in the Netherlands, so my target audience was Americans with Dutch ancestors. "Yvette's Dutch Genealogy Homepage" was born. I had no idea then how much impact this website would have on my career. Internet was all new and exciting, so soon the local chapters of the Dutch Genealogical Society came … [Read more...]
Archives for September 2013
Quick tip: National Archives photos on Flickr
4 September 2013 by Leave a Comment
This week, school is starting again in the area of the Netherlands where I live. The National Archives of the Netherlands have a fabulous set of pictures about schools at their Flickr page. The photos have no known copyright and can be used freely. Also check out these other wonderful sets: World War I World War II Old occupations Land and water All sets … [Read more...]
Dutch term: nummerwisselaar
2 September 2013 by 2 Comments
A nummerwisselaar or number changer was a person that was hired as a replacement for military service. Often, this was somebody who signed up in the same year, but whose number did not come up. They literally "exchanged numbers" so one man served instead of the other. In most cases, a contract between the (father of the) draftee and his substitute was drawn up before a public notary. It stipulated the terms, often involving a sum of money to be paid immediately and another sum after the … [Read more...]
