Archief van de Burgelijke Stand: doop-, trouw- en begraafboeken van Amsterdam (retroacta van de Burgerlijke Stand)
Item
Country
NL
Name of institution (English)
Amsterdam City Archives
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
dut
Contact information: postal address
Vijzelstraat 32, 1017 HL Amsterdam
Contact information: phone number
0031 202511511
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
stadarchief@amsterdam.nl
Reference number
5001
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Archive of the Civil Registry: baptism, marriage and burial books of Amsterdam (copies from the Civil Registry)
Title (official language of the state)
Archief van de Burgelijke Stand: doop-, trouw- en begraafboeken van Amsterdam (retroacta van de Burgerlijke Stand)
Language of title
dut
Creator / accumulator
Catholic Churches of Amsterdam
Jewish Congregations of Amsterdam
Protestant Churches of Amsterdam
Date(s)
1553/1811
Language(s)
dut
heb
por
Extent
1,396 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
This collection comprises copies of vital records from churches and congregations in Amsterdam. The fonds is divided into four sections: Doop- en geboorteregisters (baptism and birth records); Huwelijksregisters (marriage records); Begrafenisregisters (burial records); and Joodse Geboorte- Besnijdenis- en Begraafregisters (Jewish birth, circumcision and burial records).
The fourth section, which aggregates copies of vital records from the Jewish community of Amsterdam, includes a series of circumcision records from the Portuguese Jewish congregation (Besnijdenisregisters, Portugees-Israelitisch Gemeente). This series is composed of seven books from 1751 to 1823 with registers from the different mohelim, namely Moses Abravanel (no. 1294 and 1304), David Naar (no. 1295), A. Naar (no. 1297), A. L. de Leão Laguna (1361), M. L. P. H. Pereira (1370) and an unidentified mohel (1316). The birth records (Geboorteregisters) included in this section also comprise documents related to children from the Portuguese Jewish community, dating from 1740 to 1811.
Other vital records concerning the Portuguese Jewish congregation of Amsterdam can also be found in the first three sections of this collection. The Doop- en geboorteregisters includes a volume with birth records of the Portuguese Jewish congregation from 1736 to 1811 (no. 400). A book containing burial records from the Portuguese Jewish congregation from 1750 to 1811 (no. 1143) is part of the Begrafenisregisters section. Marriage records of Portuguese Jewish couples are more scattered throughout the Huwelijksregisters section. Tirtsah Levie Bernfeld (2011) identified some in the Huwelijksinteekening van de Puy series.
The fourth section, which aggregates copies of vital records from the Jewish community of Amsterdam, includes a series of circumcision records from the Portuguese Jewish congregation (Besnijdenisregisters, Portugees-Israelitisch Gemeente). This series is composed of seven books from 1751 to 1823 with registers from the different mohelim, namely Moses Abravanel (no. 1294 and 1304), David Naar (no. 1295), A. Naar (no. 1297), A. L. de Leão Laguna (1361), M. L. P. H. Pereira (1370) and an unidentified mohel (1316). The birth records (Geboorteregisters) included in this section also comprise documents related to children from the Portuguese Jewish community, dating from 1740 to 1811.
Other vital records concerning the Portuguese Jewish congregation of Amsterdam can also be found in the first three sections of this collection. The Doop- en geboorteregisters includes a volume with birth records of the Portuguese Jewish congregation from 1736 to 1811 (no. 400). A book containing burial records from the Portuguese Jewish congregation from 1750 to 1811 (no. 1143) is part of the Begrafenisregisters section. Marriage records of Portuguese Jewish couples are more scattered throughout the Huwelijksregisters section. Tirtsah Levie Bernfeld (2011) identified some in the Huwelijksinteekening van de Puy series.
Archival history
According to a resolution of the "burgemeester" (burgomaster) and "wethouders" (councillors) dated October 20, 1892, all baptism, marriage, and burial registers of the Bureau van de burgerlijke stand (Civil registry office) should be transferred to the deposits of the Gemeentearchief (Amsterdam city archives). The books were numbered, and a list of the records was drawn up with the assigned numbers and an indication of the period covered by each register. The catalogue was printed in 1910, and it is still used as the collection's inventory.
Administrative / Biographical history
During the Council of Trent, which closed in 1563, regulations were issued for keeping baptism and marriage registers. On the keeping of burial registers, the Council made no pronouncement. Even after the so-called Alteratie in 1578, when the Catholic city government in Amsterdam was deposed by the Protestant one, other churches were still allowed to remain in the city and keep their own records. The Gereformeerde Kerk (Reformed Church) followed the example of the Council of Trent regarding the regulations of registration in several ordinances promulgated even before the Alteratie. For instance, at the Provincial Synod in Dordrecht in 1574, it was decreed that every church congregation should keep a baptismal book, with the name of the baptised child, the name of the parents, and the witnesses. It was also decided to create marriage registers and registers of the members who were admitted by the congregation. Finally, it was established to record all the names of members who had died, and for whom a grave was prepared. Therefore, the regulations of the Council of Trent and the following issued after the Reformatie (Reform) led to the keeping of a large number of records.
Since their foundations, the Jewish congregations in Amsterdam had kept their own vital records (circumcision. ketubot, and burial records) as part of their own archives. However, in the 18th century, they started to produce records for the city archives as well. In 1735 and 1739, the Portuguese and Ashkenazi congregations created their "geboorteboeken" (birth books), in which they recorded the birth of their members' children.
In 1785, the City Council of Amsterdam took measures to make the registration more accurate. Firstly, the Reformed and Lutheran churches were obliged to keep duplicate or counter registers, of which every six months a copy had to be delivered to the City Hall. Secondly, it was stipulated that the religions without the baptism ritual had to keep registers of births, which ought to be delivered to the City Hall every six months. They were free to deliver either the original registers or copies of them. The ordinance explicitly required the cooperation of the Portuguese and Ashkenazic Parnassim (administrators). This ordinance remained in effect until the 19th century. Every January and July, the sextons or other officials of Amsterdam churches and congregations collected the registers from the City Hall to update them.
In 1810, the Kingdom of Holland merged into the Empire of France. One of the consequences was the introduction of the Burgerlijke stand (Civil registry) in 1811. According to a request of July 12, 1811, from the Maire (mayor), all baptismal books, which were kept by the churches, had to be delivered to the Civil registry. The churches reluctantly complied with this request, but eventually, the books were surrendered by all congregations. The Portuguese Jewish congregation offered to make a Dutch copy of their Portuguese birth registers and delivered them to the Civil registry. Also, the Ashkenazi congregation handed over its registers, which were written in Hebrew.
Since their foundations, the Jewish congregations in Amsterdam had kept their own vital records (circumcision. ketubot, and burial records) as part of their own archives. However, in the 18th century, they started to produce records for the city archives as well. In 1735 and 1739, the Portuguese and Ashkenazi congregations created their "geboorteboeken" (birth books), in which they recorded the birth of their members' children.
In 1785, the City Council of Amsterdam took measures to make the registration more accurate. Firstly, the Reformed and Lutheran churches were obliged to keep duplicate or counter registers, of which every six months a copy had to be delivered to the City Hall. Secondly, it was stipulated that the religions without the baptism ritual had to keep registers of births, which ought to be delivered to the City Hall every six months. They were free to deliver either the original registers or copies of them. The ordinance explicitly required the cooperation of the Portuguese and Ashkenazic Parnassim (administrators). This ordinance remained in effect until the 19th century. Every January and July, the sextons or other officials of Amsterdam churches and congregations collected the registers from the City Hall to update them.
In 1810, the Kingdom of Holland merged into the Empire of France. One of the consequences was the introduction of the Burgerlijke stand (Civil registry) in 1811. According to a request of July 12, 1811, from the Maire (mayor), all baptismal books, which were kept by the churches, had to be delivered to the Civil registry. The churches reluctantly complied with this request, but eventually, the books were surrendered by all congregations. The Portuguese Jewish congregation offered to make a Dutch copy of their Portuguese birth registers and delivered them to the Civil registry. Also, the Ashkenazi congregation handed over its registers, which were written in Hebrew.
Access points: locations
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The fonds is organised by both typology (birth and baptism, marriage and burial) and provenance (Portuguese Jewish congregation). On a second level, the records are arranged by churches and congregations. In each series, records are ordered chronologically.
Access, restrictions
Extensive documentation is available online:
Existence and location of copies
Author of the description
Joana Rodrigues and Kevin Soares, 2022
Bibliography
Published primary sources
Linked resources
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Stadsarchief Amsterdam | Collections (official language of the state) |
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| I. S. Révah | Existence and location of originals |