Dutch term – Schutterij

21 January 2019 by Leave a Comment

The schutterij is the citizen militia responsible for the defense of the town. In times of war, they could be called up to defend the country.

Schutterijen existed throughout the Netherlands from at least the 1500s. Regulations for the schutterijen were standardized in 1814. Male residents between the ages of 18 and 50 (from 1827: between 25 and 34) were elligible to serve. By law, 600 schutters were required per 20,000 residents. Schutterijen existed until 1901.

Records for schutters can often be found in local archives.

night's watch

The schutters of ward II in Amsterdam, better known as the “Nachtwacht” [Night’s Watch].
Credits: Rembrandt van Rijn, collection Rijksmuseum (public domain)

Source: Redmer Alma and Paul Brood, editors, Drenten Gezocht: Gids voor stamboomonderzoek in Drenthe (The Hague: Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie, 1998), 179.
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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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