Dutch terms – “Huis en erf” and other land uses

In cadastral records and land records, you will often find a description how the land was used. Here are the most common terms.

Dutch term English translation
armenhuis poorhouse
boomgaard orchard
bos wood
bouwland farmland
gemeentehuis town hall
hakhout coppiced wood
heide heath
hooiland hay land
huis house
huis en erf house and yard/lot
kerk church
molen mill
pastorie vicarage
school school
stadhuis town hall
tuin garden
veenland peat
weg road
weiland meadow
Onnink farm in Winterswijk

Onnink farm in Winterswijk. Credits: Rijksdienst Cultureel Erfgoed (CC-BY-SA)

About Yvette Hoitink

Yvette Hoitink, MLitt, CG®, QG™ is a professional genealogist, writer, and lecturer in the Netherlands. She has a Master of Letters in Family and Local History from the University of Dundee, and holds the Certification of Genealogist and Qualified Genealogist credentials. Yvette served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Genealogists and won excellence awards for her articles in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly. Yvette has been doing genealogy for over 30 years. She helps people from across the world find their ancestors from the Netherlands and its former colonies, including New Netherland. Read about Yvette's professional genealogy services.

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