Belgium Church Records

Online Records

 * 1580-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images, includes church records
 * 1668-1875 at FamilySearch - index and images

State Archives
The State [i.e. Federal] Archives of Belgium (Rijksarchief in België/Les Archives de l'Etat en Belgique) has images and some indexes of church records. Free registration is required to view the records The site comes in English, French, German or Dutch (see top left corner).

Most of the records are available only as images. They can be browsed here. A few have been indexed. They can be searched here. The images placed online are not necessarily the entirety of the records are available - the remaining records would need to be viewed in person at the archives. Nonetheless, the vast majority have been placed online.

GeneaKnowHow
Some church records can be found on the site Geneaknowhow, which contains many links to local genealogical websites and sources.

Information Content

 * Church records (Parochieregisters / Kerkelijke registers / Registres paroissiaux) are vital records kept by priests and are often called parish registers or church books. They include records of christenings (baptisms), marriages, and deaths (burials).
 * Records are written in Latin for Catholics (legal religion before 1781) or in the local language, either Dutch, French or German.
 * Besides the Catholic majority, there were a small number of Dutch Reformed (Nederlands Hervormde), French Reformed (Église Réformée) and Lutheran churches, and Jews.
 * For most localities, digital copies of church records are included in the civil registration online collection.
 * In about 1796, Church records were used by the civil government to keep vital records.
 * Roman Catholicism has been the pre-dominant religion in Belgium.
 * Church records can start as early as the 1500s, but in many parishes they do not start until well into the 1700s.

Baptisms
Catholics traditionally baptized children a few days after birth. A typical baptism record includes: Always note the witnesses, as they often are a close relative such as an aunt/uncle, grandparent or an older sibling, even if it is not stated that they are related.
 * The name of the baptized
 * The date of baptism, and sometimes the birth date
 * The names of the parents, usually including the mother's maiden name
 * The names of godparents or witnesses
 * Sometimes the residence of the parents, the relationship between witnesses and child, and whether the child was illegitimate

Marriages
A typical marriage record includes:
 * The names of the bride and groom
 * The date of marriage
 * Sometimes place of origin
 * Whether they were single, divorced or widowed. Any previous spouses may be named
 * The witnesses to the marriage
 * Sometimes parents' names, birthplaces and residences

Marriage Contracts and Banns

 * Couples’ names
 * Marriage intention dates
 * Residences
 * Occupations
 * Witnesses’ names
 * Sometimes parents’ names and sometimes other relationships.

Burials
A typical burial record includes:
 * The name of the deceased
 * The date of burial
 * The spouse or widow of the deceased for married women, and the parents' names for children
 * Sometimes additional information such as age or residence

Confirmations
Children were confirmed between the ages of 7 and 12.
 * Candidates name
 * Age
 * Residence
 * Father’s name