Echtscheiding (or scheiding) is the Dutch name for divorce. Up until the last part of the 20th century, divorce was pretty rare in the Netherlands. There are several ways to find out if a couple got divorced. The most common one is to look in the margins of the marriage record, where the divorce will be noted. The divorce will also be recorded in the marriage register, with a reference to the court ruling. You can use this to find the ruling in the court records, which may give more … [Read more...]
Dutch term – Koopman
19 January 2015 by 7 Comments
A koopman was a merchant, with the plural being kooplieden. Kooplieden could trade in all sorts of goods, ranging from spices from the Far East, timber from the Baltic or fur from the Americas. Others traded in domestic products like grain, cloth or glassware. One of the nice things about having a koopman in your tree is that they left much more records than the average person: purchase contracts, partnership agreements, declarations of debts, powers of attorney and a range of other … [Read more...]
Dutch term – Familieberichten
12 January 2015 by Leave a Comment
Familieberichten are family announcements, ads people placed in the newspaper to inform the readers of births, marriages or death. They are often less informative than obituaries but can help to provide background information and serve as illustrations. Read more about family announcements. … [Read more...]
Dutch term – Overspel
5 January 2015 by Leave a Comment
Overspel is the Dutch word for adultery. Depending on the period, adultery was not only a private matter, but could be criminally prosecuted. The church council also wanted to find out so that both parties could be censored. One of my own female ancestors was fined for insulting another woman, saying "You are keeping company with my man" and other more derogatory terms. As far as I know, the husband or the woman he was having an affair with were never prosecuted. Stories like these sure help … [Read more...]
Dutch term – Topics in an Archievenoverzicht
29 December 2014 by Leave a Comment
An archival catalog (archievenoverzicht) will give an hierarchical overview of the contents of a repository. Common topics include: Bestuur en Politiek [Government and politics] Bevolking [Population] Justitie en Rechtspraak [Justice and Court] Openbare orde en veiligheid [Public order and safety] Defensie [Defense] Notariaat [Notaries] Financiën [Finances] Verkeer en Waterstaat [Traffic and Waterways] Ruimtelijke ordening [Urban planning] Sociale zorg, welzijn … [Read more...]
Dutch term – Midwinterhoorn
22 December 2014 by 2 Comments
Midwinterhoorn literally means "Mid winter horn." It is a wooden horn that is typical for the eastern part of the country. The horns are made of a curved branch of a tree, which is sawed in half length-wise, hollowed out and put back together with a mouth piece attached to it. In Gelderland and Overijssel, midwinterhoorns are traditionally played during the Advent season. They are often played over a well, to amplify the sound, which can carry over miles and miles. For me, … [Read more...]
Dutch terms – begraafplaats and kerkhof
15 December 2014 by Leave a Comment
A begraafplaats or kerkhof is a cemetery. Kerkhof (literally meaning "church yard") is a cemetery around the church, while a begraafplaats (literally: "burial place") is a more generic term. In the Netherlands, graves are routinely cleared after a few decades to make room for new graves. To see what graves still exist, check online cemetery websites in the Netherlands. … [Read more...]
Dutch term – Wintermaand
8 December 2014 by Leave a Comment
Wintermaand (literally: Winter month) is the old word for December. … [Read more...]
Dutch term – Sinterklaas
1 December 2014 by 3 Comments
Sinterklaas is the Dutch name for Saint Nicholas. The American tradition of Santa Claus stems from the Dutch celebrating Sinterklaas. What Sinterklaas and Santa Claus have in common is their love for children and sharing gifts. But it is interesting to compare the differences in the traditions: Sinterklaas Santa Claus Feast day December 5th (St. Nicholas' Eve) December 25th Mode of transportation Arrives on a steamship. Uses a horse to get around after he … [Read more...]
Dutch term – Vroedvrouw
24 November 2014 by 3 Comments
A vroedvrouw was a midwife. There were also vroedmeesters, doctors specialized in helping women deliver children. The midwife was responsible for more than just seeing the mother and the child safely through the birth. In the case of an unwed mother, she was also urged to press the mother into revealing the name of the father of her child. It was believed that no woman would lie in childbirth. She would know that she could meet her maker at any minute and would have to account for her … [Read more...]
