Many Dutch names start with "Van" (from) like "Van Benthem" (from Bentheim) and "Van den Berg " (From the mountain/hill). Often "Van"-names originated if somebody moved and used his origin to describe who he was. Some people assume that families with "Van"-names are members of the nobility. Although many noble families used "Van"-names (e.g. "Van Egmond," "Van Grevenbroeck"), the opposite is not true since most "Van"-names were used by commoners. See also: Prefixes in … [Read more...]
Quick tip: Holland vs. Netherlands
17 July 2013 by Leave a Comment
The country of the Netherlands is often called "Holland." Did you know that Holland is actually just a part of the country and a former province? Calling the Netherlands "Holland" is like calling the United Kingdom "England" (or the United States "New York"). To make it even more confusing, the Kingdom of the Netherlands includes more than just the country of the Netherlands. Watch the video below to find out the specifics. … [Read more...]
Quick tip: maiden names
10 July 2013 by 1 Comment
In official records in the Netherlands, women are usually referred to by their maiden names. This makes it much easier to find them. When looking for a record, try searching for both last names of the spouses or parents. Chances are this will quickly return several records that are relevant for the family you're researching. … [Read more...]
Quick tip: cleared graves
1 July 2013 by 13 Comments
Did you know that in the Netherlands, graves are routinely cleared after a couple of decades? Graves cannot be bought, only rented. The usual period is 20-30 years. After that term is up, the grave is cleared if nobody renews the lease. … [Read more...]
