Most places in the Netherlands have unique names. But there are a few cases where places in different locations have the same name. Other towns have slightly different names today, but used the same names before spelling became standardized. This can cause problems, not just because researchers may search in the wrong place, but also because automated processes may link records to the wrong location.
Places that occur in more than one location
- Alphen (North Brabant), Alphen (Gelderland), and Alphen aan den Rijn (South Holland)
- Beuningen (Gelderland and Overijssel)
- Capelle (North Brabant), Capelle aan den IJssel (South Holland), Kapelle (Zeeland)
- Etten (Gelderland and North Brabant)
- Geesteren (Gelderland and Overijssel)
- Hengelo (Gelderland and Overijssel)
- Krimpen aan den IJssel and Krimpen aan de Lek (both in South Holland)
- Middelburg (Zeeland and South Holland)
- Nes (two in Friesland, one in North Holland).
- Oosterhout (Gelderland and North Brabant)
- Ouddorp (South Holland) and Oudorp (North Holland)
- Oudega (three places in Friesland)
- Roosendaal (North Brabant) and Rozendaal (Gelderland)
- Scherpenzeel (Friesland and Gelderland)
- Terheijden (North Brabant), Ter Heijde (South Holland)
- Valkenburg (South Holland and Limburg)
- Winkel (North Holland and North Brabant)
For more similar place names, including in other countries, see this list on Wikipedia. See also the article on how to record place names.
View of Oosterhout, North Brabant (public domain)
About Yvette Hoitink
