Dutch term: ondertrouw

“Ondertrouw” is the event when the banns for a marriage are published. Following the ondertrouw, the marriage is announced three times, at least a week apart (usually on 3 consecutive Sundays). If nobody objects, the marriage is usually performed shortly after the third publication of the banns. Banns were published in the place where the bride and groom lived. If they only lived there shorter than 6 months, they also needed to be published in their previous place of residence. It is not uncommon to find the same marriage banns published in 2 or 3 towns. Some may have more information than others, like names of the parents, so it often pays off to retrieve them all. See Church Records for more information.

Farmer’s wedding, by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, c. 1566-1569