Here are my favorite resources for research in the former Dutch East Indies, what is now Indonesia: Nationaal Archief The website of the National Archives of the Netherlands. Items of interest include: VOC: Dutch East India Company finding aid and images KNIL: Muster rolls of soldiers in the Royal Dutch East Indies Army. Finding aid and images. Dutch Sources on South East Asia. Research guide. Afscheid van Indie [goodbye to the Indies] searchable scans of records relating to … [Read more...]
Dutch term – Kolonie
10 October 2016 by 1 Comment
Kolonie is the Dutch word for colony. As a result of the commercial activities of companies like the Dutch East India Company and West India Company, the Dutch had colonies and trade posts all over the world, including: New Netherland in North America, which covered large parts of the current states of New York and New Jersey, where the Dutch obtained furs. El Mina in Ghana, center of the Dutch slave trade in Africa. Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, important stopping point for … [Read more...]
Quick Tip – The Pull of the Dutch East and West India Companies
14 October 2015 by Leave a Comment
The Dutch East India Company and West India Company attracted workers from all over Europe. Many came from the German states or the Baltic. So if your ancestor was employed by one of these companies and settled in the West Indies, South Africa, New Netherland or the East Indies, it is possible that they were not Dutch at all. … [Read more...]
Dutch Genealogy Webinar – Questions about Immigrant Ancestors
2 October 2015 by 1 Comment
This is my second post answering the questions asked by viewers of my "Researching Your Dutch Ancestors" webinar. In this post, I will answer questions about finding immigrant ancestors. A good general strategy for finding immigrant ancestors is outlined in my article How to find my immigrant ancestor in the Netherlands? How do you trace your Dutch ancestor if you don't know when and were they arrived? This viewer had ancestors who arrived in the colonies in the 1700s. For these early … [Read more...]
The Sinister Amsterdam Orphan Trade
4 September 2015 by 25 Comments
While doing research at the Amsterdam City Archives, I came across a ledger of orphans working for the Dutch East India Company. The register was part of the records of the Burgerweeshuis, the Citizens' Orphanage. I was fascinated to read how the orphans would learn a trade like carpentry or sail making, and were able to find employment in one of the most prosperous companies of the era. But while browsing the pages, a more sinister picture presented itself. Let's take a look at a … [Read more...]
News from the Netherlands – June 2014
4 July 2014 by 3 Comments
'News from the Netherlands' is a new monthly series on this blog to inform you about the best new websites, projects and books that help you find and understand your Dutch ancestors. New websites The Brabants Historical Information Center has a new website (Dutch only). The 'Stamboom' [Family Tree] page has several indexes, some with scans attached. They are considering making that page available in English. [Source: BHIC] The Historical Center of Leeuwarden has a new website (Dutch … [Read more...]
