Netherlands - Marriage - 1550-1810

1. Parish Register, Marriage: Church records Beginning about 1550, churches required their clergy to keep marriage records. The marriage record may include the dates of the marriage intention and the marriage banns or proclamations. Information found in a marriage record depends on how detailed the minister made his record. Usually it gives the name of the bride and groom and their parents. It may also give their ages or dates of birth.

What you are looking for Before civil registers began, church marriage records are the best source for determining when a person was married.

Why go to the next record Not all marriage records of the Netherlands have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

2. Civil Marriage: Public records No information available at this time.

What you are looking for People who were not members of the state church were required to be married by either a Dutch Reformed minister or a civil magistrate. If you do not find your ancestor's marriage in church marriage records, civil marriage records are the best source for determining when a person was married.

Why go to the next record Not all civil marriage records have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

3. Parish Register, Christening, 1500-1874: Church records Beginning about 1550, churches required their clergy to keep christening (or baptism) records. The records give the names of the parents and the child and include christening dates. They may include birth dates. Information may be recorded on or after the date of birth. Information found in a christening depends on how detailed the minister made his record.

What you are looking for If civil marriage records do not exist, parish christening records are the best source for determining when a person was married. The marriage date should be about one year before the first child's birth.

Why go to the next record Not all christening records have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

4. Census: Census Census or population records were not kept with any consistency or regularity before 1850. If an age is given, use the records to estimate a person's birth date. After 1850 birth dates and places are given. The records can also help identify all the members of a family and help determine where a family originated.

What you are looking for When parish christening records do not exist, census records are the best source for determining when a couple was married. A census record may not give a marriage date for the parents, but it does give their names. The marriage date should be about one year before the first child's birth.

Why go to the next record Not all census records have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

5. Orphans Court Records: Guardianship Orphans' Court records provide information about the birth, marriage, and death of an individual. They can also help identify all the members of a family.

What you are looking for When census records do not exist, Orphans' Court records are the best source for determining when a couple was married. The record may not give a marriage date for the deceased, but it does give the name of the spouse and surviving children. The length of the marriage may be indicated in the Orphans' Court record, from which you can estimate the marriage date.

Why go to the next record Not all Orphans' Court records have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

6. Marriage Contract: Court records Marriage contracts give the name of the bride and groom and frequently the names of the parents. Couples were usually married a few days after a marriage contract was created.

What you are looking for When Orphans' Court records do not exist, marriage contracts are the best source for determining when a couple was married. Marriage contracts were recorded by courts and notaries. The date of the contract was normally within a few days of the marriage date.

Why go to the next record Not all marriage contracts have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

7. Marriage Contract: Notarial records Marriage contracts give the name of the bride and groom and frequently the names of the parents. Couples were usually married a few days after a marriage contract was created.

What you are looking for When marriage contracts created by courts do not exist, marriage contracts created by notaries are the best source for determining when a couple was married. The date of the contract was normally within a few days of the marriage date.

Why go to the next record Not all marriage contracts have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

8. Probates: Court records Probate records provide information about the birth, marriage, and death of an individual. They can also help identify all the members of a family.

What you are looking for When marriage contracts created by notaries do not exist, probate records are the best source for determining when a couple was married. Probate records were kept by courts and notaries. A probate record may not give a marriage date for the deceased, but it does give the name of the spouse and surviving children. The length of the marriage may be indicated in the probate record, from which you can estimate the marriage date.

Why go to the next record Not all probate records have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

9. Probates: Notarial records Probate records provide information about the birth, marriage, and death of an individual. They can also help identify all the members of a family.

What you are looking for When probate records created by courts do not exist, probate records created by notaries are the best source for determining when a couple was married. A probate record may not give a marriage date for the deceased, but it does give the name of the spouse and surviving children. The length of the marriage may be indicated in the probate record, from which you can estimate the marriage date.

Why go to the next record Not all probate records have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.