Netherlands Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
This collection of civil registration records from provinces of the Netherlands covers the years of 1811 through1950.

Record History
The French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, introduced civil registration in the Netherlands at the time of the French occupation in the late 1700s, beginning mainly in the southern provinces. In 1811, the rest of the country began implementing the recording of births, marriages, and deaths using a standard format. Two copies of the records were created; one stayed in the local registration district, and the second was sent annually to the district court. The district court created the ten-year indexes and eventually deposited the records and ten-year indexes in the provincial archives.

Why This Collection Was Created
The civil registration serves to officially record the events of birth, marriage, and death in a person’s life. These records also serve for statistical purposes, and in the earlier years, the records were also used for military drafting.

Record Reliability
The civil registration records for the Netherlands are a reliable source for genealogical research after 1811. For events prior to March 1811, it is best to search church records.

Record Description
This collection includes images of the records of civil births, marriages, marriage intentions, marriage proclamations, marriage supplements, deaths, and 10-year indexes. The events are recorded either totally by hand or in partially preprinted books where the information was entered by hand. This collection of records has been preserved relatively well; however, some older records may have some physical damage.

Record Content
The key genealogical facts found on most birth records include the following: • Name of the child • Gender of the child • Child’s place of birth • Date and time of birth • Parents’ names, including the mother’s maiden name • Parent’s occupations, ages, and marital statuses • Names of witnesses, who could also be family members

The key genealogical facts found on most marriages records include the following: • Names of the bride and groom • Their marital statuses • Their places of birth and ages • Place, date, and time of the event • Their occupations and residence • Parents’ names, their residences, and occupations if living • Names of witnesses, who could also be family members

The key genealogical facts found on most death records include the following: • Name of the deceased person • Date and place of death • Gender and age of the deceased • Deceased’s place of birth • Occupation of the person at the time of death • Spouse’s name and occupation, if the deceased was married • Deceased’s death place • Parents’ names, occupations, and residence if living, and if not living, the place of death • Name and information of the informant, who could be a relative • Names of witnesses, who could also be relatives

How to Use the Record
It is important to know that in order to search a birth record one needs to search by the given name of the child, the mother’s maiden name, and the father’s name. Children are never labeled as “illegitimate,” but the mother is noted as being “unmarried.” If the father and mother of the child later marry, it will be noted in the margin of the birth certificate with an indication that the child is “recognized” as theirs. Also, the child’s last name will be changed to the father’s last name. In this case, the child is given the mother’s last name at birth but later go on in life with the father’s last name.

If you believe a marriage took place but cannot find a record of the marriage, search records of intent to marry. Take note of the marriage entry number; you will need this to locate the marriage supplements, which are the documents filed by the bride and groom in support of their application to be married.

Civil death records often exist for individuals who do not have birth or marriage records. Married women are recorded under their maiden surname.

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Sources of This Collection

 * Digital copies of originals housed in different Provincial Archive Services (Rijksarchief) throughout the Netherlands.
 * “Netherlands Civil Registration 1811-1950”, database, FamilySearch, 2010; from Rijksarchiefdienst (State Archive Service), Netherlands. “Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand”. Rijksarchief of Netherlands. FHL microfilm. Family History Library, Utah.

How to Cite Your Sources
Instructions on citing specific records or images within this collection. A full bibliographic record is available in the Family History Library Catalog.

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