Dutch Ancestors Search

Introduction

Many people are searching on the internet for their roots as well as other information about their ancestors. However, is that information correct? You can only verify such information when you have a copy of the original birth, death or marriage certificate. And those original certificates cannot be found on the internet. Therefore, you are never sure that you have the accurate information about your ancestors.

In The Netherlands, there are two primary sources of this information – civil and church certificates. Laws were enacted in 1811 which required the registration of all births, deaths and marriages. Records prior to that date were registered with the local church officials. Nearly all original civil certificates dating from 1811 until 1920, as well as the church certificates pre-dating that time can be located in the national, county or city archives.

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Why original certificates?

In the original certificates you can read a lot of more information.

Some examples:

1. The names, professions and ages of the witnesses. (see the example)

2. The original signatures of the persons. (see the example)

3. The time of birth or death. (see the example)

4. The house or address the person lived at that time.

5. The professions of the persons had on that date.

6. In the margin of some certificates are written important information.

7. At a lot of marriage certificates are important accompanying documents to the
original certificate.

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What can I do for you

After you have supplied information about the person or persons whose ancestors you wish to research, I then go to the Dutch archive(s) to research the birth, marriage and death certificates. You should be aware that it is not always possible to find them, but I would like to make this attempt. The church records from before 1811 are mostly baptism and marriage certificates. Occasionally, there are burial records as well.

It is important for you to know, however, that due to privacy laws there are restrictions on what information can be accessed. Birth certificate records are now closed for the last 100 years, marriage certificates for the last 75 years and death certificates for the last 50 years.

Available are: Birth certificates till about 1902, marriage certificates till about 1922 and death certificates till about 1952.

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What information I need from you to start

Because of the structure of the Dutch archives -there are more than 40 of them- I will need at least the following information about a person.

The family name (“last” name)
The given or first name
The date or year of birth/marriage or burial in The Netherlands
The place, city or village of birth/marriage or burial

Optional:

The given or first names of any children
The family name of a spouse

The more information I am given, the quicker I can find your something.

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How I work

After I review the information you send me, I will determine if I have enough information or not, to go begin a search. I will inform you if there is or not and maybe I may ask you for additional information.

When there is sufficient information, I will visit the archive and try to find the ancestors for you. Once I have located some, I put that in my database and then mail you what I have found. With that same mail you receive a part of copy of one original birth, marriage or death certificate. Turn around time - 4 to 6 weeks.

Please inform me if you want me to translate the original certificates.

After payment of the fee I send you: