RESEARCH OUTLINE FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH The Netherlands THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS CONTENTS You will need a basic understanding of genealogical research procedures before you begin to look for Introduction............................ 1 your ancestors. You may want to read the booklet Dutch Search Strategies .................. 2 Guide to Research, which is available at the Family Records at the Family History Library........ 5 History Library and at Family History Centers. FamilySearch™ ......................... 5 Guide to Research is also available in Dutch. Family History Library Catalog............. 6 Records Selection Table: The Netherlands..... 8 Generally, you must know a specific town where a Map of the Netherlands................... 9 Dutch relative was born or married before Archives and Libraries................... 10 beginning your research because most records were Biography............................ 11 kept locally. Cemeteries............................ 12 Census............................... 12 Opportunities for genealogical research in the Church History ........................ 13 Netherlands are very good because many valuable Church Records........................ 14 records have been preserved. Genealogical Civil Registration....................... 18 information is available through the Family History Court Records......................... 22 Library or by correspondence directly with the Emigration and Immigration............... 23 Netherlands. Gazetteers............................ 25 Genealogy............................ 26 Using This Outline Guardianship.......................... 28 Handwriting........................... 28 The “Dutch Search Strategies” section of this Heraldry ............................. 29 outline explains how to research your family history Historical Geography.................... 29 effectively. This section is particularly valuable if History .............................. 31 you are just beginning your research. Jewish Records ........................ 32 Land and Property...................... 34 The “Records Selection Table” on page 8 helps you Language and Languages................. 34 select records to search. The section “Records at Maps................................ 35 the Family History Library” describes the library’s Military Records ....................... 36 collection of Dutch records. The “Family History Minorities............................ 38 Library Catalog” section explains how to use the Names, Geographical.................... 39 library’s catalog to find specific records in the Names, Personal ....................... 39 collection. Naturalization and Citizenship............. 41 Nobility .............................. 42 Beginning on page 10, the outline discusses the Notarial Records....................... 42 major records used for Dutch research, such as Periodicals............................ 43 church records and civil registrations. These Population............................ 45 sections are listed alphabetically, and the section Probate Records ....................... 46 headings are the same as the subject headings used Public Records ........................ 47 in the “Locality Search” section of the Family Societies ............................. 47 History Library Catalog. Taxation............................. 49 Other Records of the Netherlands........... 51 Related records and concepts are grouped together For Further Reading .................... 51 under the same heading. For example, information Comments and Suggestions............... 52 about the history of emigration from the Netherlands, passenger lists, and emigration indexes are discussed under “Emigration and INTRODUCTION Immigration.” This outline introduces you to the records you can use to discover your Dutch ancestors. It describes the content, use, and availability of major genealogical records. Use this outline to set meaningful research goals and to select the records that will help you achieve your goals. In this outline, Dutch-language terms are frequently It is usually best to begin by verifying information given in brackets and italics after the English terms, about the ancestor for whom you know the most, such as “Marriages [Huwelijken].” English and then continue searching from there. It is often translations in parentheses follow Dutch-language hard to find an ancestor’s records when you know book, microfilm, or microfiche titles. Dutch only a name and country of birth. With so little spellings are used for Dutch place names. For information, your research is limited to a few example, Noord-Holland is used instead of North general indexes like the International Genealogical Holland, and ’s-Gravenhage is used instead of The Index and Ancestral File. Hague. Step 3. Select a Record to Search This outline does not mention all possible genealogical record sources. At the end of the Effective researchers begin by obtaining outline you will find a brief list of additional subject background information about their ancestor. Then headings under “Other Records” and a short they survey previous research in compiled records. bibliography of sources under “For Further Finally, they search original documents. Reading.” For help tracing Dutch emigrants, use the research outlines for the country of arrival and the Background Information Sources. You may need publication Tracing Immigrant Origins Research some geographical and historical information, Outline (34111). which can save you time and effort by focusing your research in the correct place and time period. DUTCH SEARCH STRATEGIES • Locate the town or place of residence. Examine Step 1. Identify What You Know about maps, gazetteers, and other place-finding aids to learn about each of the places where your Your Family ancestor lived. Identify the major migration routes, nearby cities, county boundaries, Begin your family history research with family and geographical features, and government or home sources. Look for names, dates, and places in ecclesiastical jurisdictions. Place-finding aids certificates, family Bibles, obituaries, diaries, are described in the “Gazetteers,” “History,” photographs, and similar sources. Ask your and “Maps” sections of this outline. relatives for any information they may have. It is very likely that your second cousin, great-aunt, or • Review history. Understanding the history of the other relative already has some family information. Netherlands will help your search because Organize the information you find, and record it on historical events affected the development of pedigree charts and family group record forms. records. If possible, study a history of the areas where your ancestor lived. Look for clues about Step 2. Decide What You Want to Learn the people, places, religions, and events that may have affected his or her life and the records First, select a specific relative or ancestor, born in about him or her. Records with information the Netherlands, for whom you know at least a about settlement patterns, government and name, the town where he or she lived, and an ecclesiastical jurisdictions, and historical events approximate date of birth or marriage. It is also are described in the “Church History,” very helpful to know the names of other family “Gazetteers,” “Historical Geography,”and members born in the same area. For records prior to “History” sections of this outline. 1811 it also helps to know a person’s religion. • Learn about Dutch jurisdictions. Knowing If you do not have enough information on a Dutch about past and present Dutch political relative, review the sources mentioned in step one. subdivisions will help your search. The “Church The “Emigration and Immigration” section of this Records” section tells you how to determine outline gives more suggestions for finding an which parish a village was in, and the emigrant ancestor’s birthplace. Tracing Immigrant “Gazetteers” section explains how to find the Origins Research Outline may also help. civil registration office for each town. Next, decide what you want to learn about your • Use language helps. Dutch records and ancestor, such as a marriage date and place or histories are usually written in Dutch or Latin. parents’ names. You may want to ask an You do not need to speak or read Dutch or Latin experienced researcher or a librarian to help you to search the records, but you will need to select a specific research goal that you can achieve. recognize some key words and phrases. Helpful 2 language aids are described in the “Language Step 4. Find and Search the Record and Languages” section of this outline. Suggestions for Obtaining Records. You may Previous Research Sources. Most genealogists obtain the records you need from the following survey research previously done by others because sources: such surveying can save time and give valuable information. You may want to look for your • Family History Library. You are welcome to ancestor in these sources: use the records at the Family History Library. The library is open to the public, and there are • Printed family histories and genealogies no fees for using the records. If you would like more information about the library and its • Biographies services, write to: • Local histories Family History Library 35 North West Temple Street • International Genealogical Index Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3400 USA • Ancestral File • Family History Centers. Copies of most of the • Family Group Records Collection records on microfilm at the