Dutch term – Kiesrecht

Kiesrecht means suffrage, the right to vote in political elections.

In the Netherlands, the first democratic elections were held in 1795, but only a men owning property over a certain value were allowed to vote. It wasn’t until 1917 that the right to vote was granted to all men, and women followed two years later. Voter registration records of these first universal elections have survived for several places and can be found in municipal or regional archives.

Women in traditional costume in a voting booth.

Women in traditional costume in a voting booth. Credits: Wim van Rossem, collection Nationaal Archief (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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