For a long time, the rules regarding surnames in the Netherlands were not too complex. Children from a legal marriage were given the father’s surname. Children born to unmarried mothers were given the mother’s surname. But a new law has changed this from 1 January 2024. Napoleon Let us go back in time… Until 1811, Read more…
This week we celebrate two happy moments for the royal family. On 31 January the birthday of Princess Beatrix. In addition, on 2 February the 20th wedding anniversary of King Willem Alexander and Queen Máxima. Records for both events are not public yet. As a result, we cannot have a look at these birth or Read more…
Civil records are one of the most reliable sources. That is what we teach beginning genealogists in the Netherlands. In general, that statement is correct. Nevertheless, civil registrars were and are human beings and we all make mistakes. What if a name in a birth record was wrong? Translation The original record shows the birth Read more…