Dutch term – Familiebijbel

A familiebijbel is a family bible. Some Dutch families recorded births, marriages, and deaths in their bibles.

Familiebijbels were not as common in the Netherlands as they were in other parts of the world. Until the 1900s, a large part of the population was illiterate and only richer people were able to create their own records. You rarely see family bibles cited in Dutch genealogical publications. The records kept by the churches and civil registration are readily available, include the whole population, and are generally more accurate than family records.

Family bible of the Alewijn family, 1637. Credits: collection Amsterdam Museum (CC-0).