Netherlands Societies

There are many societies and organizations that may have information of value to your genealogical research. There are many such societies in the Netherlands, the United States, and Canada. You may find it helpful to join one of these societies and support its efforts.

Genealogical Societies
There are many genealogical societies that emphasize Dutch research. Most of these societies publish helpful periodicals, transcripts, and compiled genealogies and may have special indexes, collections, and projects. Many publish queries about Dutch ancestors or maintain a list of members’ research interests. Some specialize in the immigrants to a specific area. The following societies are of interest:

The Central Bureau for Genealogy. This society is the foremost genealogical society in the Netherlands and has the largest holdings. Located adjacent to the National Archive, CBG was established by the government to assist people with their genealogical research. You do not need to be a member of this society to get research help from them. They welcome inquiries. Simply email your request from their website. Because they are only partially funded by the government, they are forced to generate additonal funds by charging a modest fee for some of their services. They are very knowledgeable and wonderful to work with.

Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie Prins Willem-Alexanderhof 22 Postbus 11755 2502 AT Den Haag The Netherlands Telephone: 070-3150500

The Dutch Genealogical Society. It has 34 chapters and publishes the journal Gens Nostra (Our Ancestry).

Nederlandse Genealogische Vereniging Postbus 976 1000 AZ Amsterdam The Netherlands E-mail: [mailto:info@ngv.nl info@ngv.nl] Internet: www.ngv.nl

The Royal Dutch Society for Genealogy and Heraldry. This society began in 1883. Its collections are in the custody of the Central Bureau for Genealogy, named above. The society publishes De Nederlandsche Leeuw (The Dutch Lion).

Koninklijk Nederlands Genootschap voor Geslacht– en Wapenkunde Prins Willem-Alexanderhof 24 Postbus 85630 2508 CH Den Haag The Netherlands Telephone: 00-31703855965 Internet: www.knggw.nl

The Frisian Academy. This society can help with genealogical, cultural, and historical issues for Friesland province.

Fryske Akademy Coulonhûs Doelestrjitte 8/Postbus 54 8900AB Ljouwert/Leeuwarden The Netherlands Fax: 058-2131414 E-mail: [mailto:fa@fa.knaw.nl fa@fa.knaw.nl] Internet: www.fa.knaw.nl

Historical Societies
Historical societies can be valuable sources of information in the Netherlands. Similar societies exist in countries where Dutch emigrants settled. These often collect information about Dutch immigrants. Some may have information about specific individuals. Many societies have special collections of books and manuscript material for the Netherlands that may be difficult to find in libraries and archives. You may be interested in the services, activities, and collections of the following:

Royal Dutch Historical Society Koninklijk Nederlands Historisch Genootschap Prins Willem-Alexanderhof 5 Postbus 90406 2509 LK Den Haag The Netherlands Telephone: 070-3140363 Fax: 070-3140450 E-mail: [mailto:knhg@xs4all.nl knhg@xs4all.nl] Internet: www.knhg.nl

The New Netherland Project. This project was established under the sponsorship of the New York State Library and the Holland Society of New York. Its focus is on the Dutch who immigrated to America before 1675.

New Netherland Project New York State Library Empire State Plaza CEC 8th Floor Albany, NY 12230 USA Telephone: 1-518-474-6067 Fax: 1-518-474-5786 E-mail: [mailto:cgehring@unix2.nysed.gov cgehring@unix2.nysed.gov] Internet: www.nnp.org

The addresses of many ethnic heritage historical societies in North America are given in:

Smith, Betty P. Directory: Historical Agencies in North America. 13th ed. Nashville, Tennessee: American Association for State and Local History, 1986. (FHL book 970 H24d 1986.)

Wheeler, Mary Bray, ed. Directory of Historical Organizations in the United States and Canada. 14th ed. Nashville, Tennessee: American Association for State and Local History, 1990. (FHL book 970 H24d 1990.)

Family Associations/One–Name Societies
Many family organizations in the Netherlands, the United States, and Canada are gathering information about their Dutch ancestors. Some organizations are gathering information about all individuals with a particular surname. Family histories, newsletters, family group records, and Ancestral File can help you locate active associations. See the "Genealogy" section for more information.

Guides to Societies and Associations
Current addresses, functions, and membership requirements of fraternal, ethnic, veteran, hereditary, and other associations are listed in:

Encyclopedia of Associations. 2 vol., 33rd ed., annual. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research Co., 1998. (FHC US/Canada Ref book 973 E4gr.) United States associations and international organizations are listed in separate volumes.

Additional information on societies and other sources of information about the Netherlands are in:

Meyer, Mary Keysor. Meyer’s Directory of Genealogical Societies in the U.S.A. and Canada. 10th ed. Mt. Airy, Maryland: Meyer, 1994. (FHL book 970 C44m 1994.) See page 110 of this book.

Wasserman, Paul and Alice E. Kennington, eds., Ethnic Information Sources of the United States. 2d ed. Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1983. (FHL Ref 973 F24w.)

Records at the Family History Library
Society records are usually described in the Author/Title search of the Family History Library Catalog under the name of the society. The Place search also lists societies under one of the following headings:

NETHERLANDS – SOCIETIES

NETHERLANDS, [PROVINCE] – SOCIETIES

NETHERLANDS – GENEALOGY

NETHERLANDS, [PROVINCE] – GENEALOGY

Some records gathered by societies are listed in the Place search of the Family History Library Catalog under the type of record. For example, cemetery transcripts gathered by a local genealogical society are listed in the Family History Library Catalog under:

NETHERLANDS, [PROVINCE]– CEMETERIES

NETHERLANDS, [PROVINCE], [TOWN] – CEMETERIES

Lists and guides that describe the collections of societies are listed in the Place search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

NETHERLANDS – ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES – INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS

NETHERLANDS, [PROVINCE] – ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES – INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS

NETHERLANDS, [PROVINCE], [TOWN] – ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES – INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS