Top 10 Websites for Research in the Former Dutch East Indies

Here are my favorite resources for research in the former Dutch East Indies, what is now Indonesia:

  1. Nationaal Archief
    The website of the National Archives of the Netherlands. Items of interest include:

  2. Atlases of the Dutch East Indies (see section B – Bibliotheek).
  3. RoosjeRoos
    RoosjeRoos is the website by researchers Maarten and Willy Etmans, who specialize in research in the Dutch East Indies. Their website includes the index of the civil registration of the Dutch East Indies, as taken from the annual government almanacs. Click “Burgerlijke stand” [civil registration] for the search form.
  4. Indische Genealogische Vereniging [Indies Genealogical Society]
    This society publishes sources from the former Dutch East Indies, some of which are available online for members. The website includes Janssen’s Indisch Repertorium, which provides references to publications mentioning families from the Dutch East Indies.
  5. FamilySearch
    FamilySearch has scans of many sources of the Dutch East Indies, including scans of civil registration records. Most of these scans can only be accessed in Family History Centers or affiliated libraries. Search the FamilySearch catalog for the town to find out which sources are available.
  6. Delpher.
    Searchable newspapers and publications. The newspaper (“kranten”) section contains many newspapers from the former Dutch East Indies.
  7. Arsip National Republik Indonesia
    Website of the National Archives of Indonesia. The Archive section includes many records from Batavia castle.
  8. MRVisser.
    Website that publishes sources from the Dutch East Indies and a genealogical database of families from the Dutch East Indies.
  9. Japanse Burgerkampen [Japanese civilian camps]
    Website about Japanese internment camps in the Dutch East Indies in World War II, with names of prisoners.
  10. Museum Bronbeek
    Museum specializing in the colonial-military history of the Netherlands. Their catalog includes publications, manuscripts, and photos from the Dutch East Indies.
    Hattip: Karin Vervelde, Dutch Genealogy Facebook group.

View of Batavia, about 1665. Credits: Johannes Vingboons, collection Nationaal Archief (public domain)

Many of these websites are in Dutch only. You can use Google Translate to help you.

About Yvette Hoitink

Yvette Hoitink, MLitt, CG®, QG™ is a professional genealogist, writer, and lecturer in the Netherlands. She has a Master of Letters in Family and Local History from the University of Dundee, and holds the Certification of Genealogist and Qualified Genealogist credentials. Yvette served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Genealogists and won excellence awards for her articles in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly. Yvette has been doing genealogy for over 30 years. She helps people from across the world find their ancestors from the Netherlands and its former colonies, including New Netherland. Read about Yvette's professional genealogy services.

Comments

  1. Nog twee bronnen:
    “Oost-indische bronnen,” (www.cbgverzamelingen.nl).
    “Regeringsalmanak voor Nederlands-Indië”

Leave comment

*