Netherlands, Gelderland Province Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This Collection will include records from 1811 to 1950.

Record types found on the films are births, marriages, deaths, 10 year indexes, marriage intentions, marriage proclamations, and marriage supplements. The events are recorded either totally by hand or in partially preprinted books where the information is then entered by hand.

The collection was assembled from existing records, usually books or ledgers. Sometimes the original record book contained one type of entry, such as births. Sometimes, the book contained multiple record types, such as births, deaths, and marriages. Therefore, as you search the records, you will find a mixture of record types even though the heading mentions only one type of record initially. The heading may change as you search the specific collection to reflect the variety of records it contains. Thus, searching in marriages may lead to both marriage and divorce records. The same will be true when searching divorces.

The French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte introduced civil registration to the Netherlands at the time of the French occupation in the late 1700s, first in the southern part of the country and later in the rest of the country. Since March of 1811, the local civil authorities in Gelderland began recording births, marriages, and deaths using a standard format. Two copies of the records were created; one stayed in the local registration district, the second was sent annually to the district court. The district court created “ten-year” indexes and eventually deposited the records and ten-year indexes in the provincial archives.

For a list of records by localities and dates currently published in the Netherlands, Gelderland Province Civil Registration, 1811-1950 collection, select the Browse.

For a list of film numbers currently published in the Netherlands, Gelderland Province Civil Registration, 1811-1950 (includes index) collection, select the Browse.

The civil registration serves to officially record the events of births, marriages, and deaths in a person’s life. These records also served for statistical purposes, and in the earlier years, for military drafting.

The civil registration is the most accurate source for records search after March 1811 in Gelderland. For events prior to March 1811, it is best to search church records.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Records collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content, History and Use


For information about the history, content, and use of these records see the wiki article Netherlands Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records).

How to Search the Records
To search the collection, select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒ Select the Municipality ⇒ Select the Record type and date range which takes you to the images.

Known Issues with this Collection
For a full list of all known issues associated with this collection, please read the attached Wiki article. If you encounter additional problems, feel free to report them at [mailto:support@familysearch.org support@familysearch.org]. Please include the full path to the link and a description of the problem in your e-mail. Your assistance will help ensure that future reworks will be considered.

Related Web Sites
Genver 2 - To combate difficulties getting to the correct location in this collection. (Website is in Dutch.)

Genlias There is also a site call which is a compilation of indexed records from the Netherlands, including some from Dutch colonies, mostly dating from 1811 until the mid-1900s. (Website is in Dutch, but with an option to view and search in English.) Currently incomplete, but extensive and with records being added.

Images for many of the indexed records on Genlias can be found in the collections on Familysearch.org.

Related Wiki Articles

 * Netherlands
 * Netherlands Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
"Netherlands, Gelderland Province Civil Registration, 1811-1950 (includes index)," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VR8X-GND : accessed 23 May 2012), Johannes Franciscus Antonius De Haan, 1879; citing Zaltbommel (Gelderland), Burgerlijke Stand, Civil Registration of Zaltbommel (Gelderland), FHL 211746, Rijke Archive, Gelderland, Arnhem, The Netherlands.