The margins of birth records sometimes contain interesting information. For example, if the child was born out of wedlock, and the mother later married and the husband recognized the child as his, this will be recorded in the margin of the birth record. So don't rely on an index, but always check the original document to see what information may be found there. … [Read more...]
Dutch term: inventaris
16 September 2013 by Leave a Comment
An inventaris is an inventory. In a genealogical context, it can have two different meanings: A finding aid or catalog of a collection, for example the inventaris of the archive of the Dutch East India Company. A call number of a file within a catalog is called an inventarisnummer (inv.nr.). An inventory of an estate of a person, usually a deceased person. … [Read more...]
My great-grandparents’ incestuous marriage
13 September 2013 by 5 Comments
When my great-grandparents Hendrik Woordes and Janna Geertruid Droppers wanted to get married in 1910, they were facing a problem. The law did not allow them to marry, since his first wife Hendrika Willemina Droppers had been the sister of Janna Geertruid. Hendrika Willemina had died in childbirth the year before, leaving Hendrik with a motherless infant. When he found her youngest sister willing to marry him and take care of the child, the only way to do that was to apply for a Royal … [Read more...]
Quick tip: Find Dutch genealogical collections at archives, not libraries or courthouses
11 September 2013 by 1 Comment
Unlike in the US, most genealogical records and collections in the Netherlands can be found in archives, not libraries or courthouses. Most libraries do not have a genealogical collection, just some published books about genealogy. Courthouses, municipalities and other governmental agencies are required by law to transfer their permanent records to an archive, usually after 20 years. If you want to consult original records, genealogical publications or newspapers, archives are your best bet. … [Read more...]
Dutch term: patroniem
9 September 2013 by Leave a Comment
A patroniem is the Dutch word for 'patronymic,' a name derived from the father's name. Examples are Jansen (son of Jan), Marijnissen (son of Marijn or Marinus) or Damen (son of Daam or Adam). In some provinces where patronymics were common, like Friesland and Noord-Brabant, you may encounter the word patroniem in search engines. If this is the case, be sure to use try that field, because you will not get any results by searching for a patroniem in the achternaam (surname) field. See the … [Read more...]
Column: Twenty years
6 September 2013 by 2 Comments
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...]
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...]
New website about the Dutch in the Caribbean world
30 August 2013 by Leave a Comment
A new website is available: The Dutch in the Caribbean World C. 1670-C. 1870. The website has a guide to archival sources on the Dutch colonies in the Caribbean World and a summary of the relevant laws and regulations of the period. The references cover collections in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Curaçao, Suriname and Guyana, especially those that might contain information about slavery and multicultural relations. … [Read more...]
Quick tip: Let your browser translate for you
28 August 2013 by 2 Comments
Some modern browsers, like Google Chrome, will automatically offer to translate a website for you if it's not in your language(s). You can use this to browse Dutch websites. Beware however, that sometimes names are accidentally translated as well. Mr. Koning could be represented as Mr. King, and a place name like Houten as Wooden. … [Read more...]
