Over the past two hundred years, Dutch municipalities have seen many boundary changes. In the past 50 years especially, many smaller municipalities have merged to form larger municipalities. Understanding these boundary changes can help you figure out if your ancestor moved, or if they continued to live in the same place but the municipality changed. For an overview of all municipalities in the Netherlands since 1811 including boundary changes, see the website Gemeentegeschiedenis.
Example: Princenhage
My grandmother grew up in Princenhage. If I search for that name in the Gemeentegeschiedenis website, it tells me that the municipality existed between 1819 and 1942. My grandmother was born in 1917 and married in 1942, so the municipality was indeed called Princenhage during her childhood. In 1942, it was annexed by Breda. The records for Princenhage can now be found in the Breda City Archives.
Aunt Piet (in white apron) before her shop in Princenhage (public domain)
About Yvette Hoitink
