DoddemaGen

This page contains a translation of Dutch words that you might encounter when you consult Dutch genealogical records. If you do not understand certain translations, or you are of the opinion that the explanation is incorrect, please let me know.

A

• advocaat = lawyer
• afkomstig van = from
• afschrift = copy
• aldaar = there / in that place
• ambtenaar = civil servant
• apotheker = pharmacist
• arbeider = labourer (male)
• arbeidster = labourer (female)

B

• bakker = baker
• bakkersknecht = baker’s assistant, baker’s hand
• bediende = servant
• begraafboek = register of burials
• belastingambtenaar = tax official
• bevolking = population
• bevolkingsregister = population register
• bgm = abbreviation for bridegroom
• bierbrouwer = brewer of beer
• bijlage = appendix, annex
• bijzonderheden = particular detail
• blikslager = tinsmith, tinker
• bloemist = florist
• boekhandelaar = bookseller
• boekhouder = bookkeeper
• boerenarbeider = farm hand
• boerenknecht = farm hand
• brd = abbreviation for bride
• bron = source
• broodbakker = baker
• brouwer = brewer
• burgemeester = mayor
• Burgerlijke Stand = Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
• buschauffeur = bus driver

C

• chauffeur = driver
• chef = station-master
• chirurgijn = chirurgeon, barber-surgeon
• collectie = collection
• commissaris = commissioner, chief constable

D

• dagloner = day labourer
• dg = abbreviation for day / days
• dienstbode = maid-servant
• dienstknecht = hand servant (male)
• dienstmeid = maid-servant
• dijkgraaf = chairman of the dike-board/ polder-board
• dr. or dochter = daughter
• drukker = printer
• drukkerij = printer

E

• echtgenoot = husband, spouse
• echtgenote = wife, spouse
• echtscheiding = divorce
• emigrant = emigrant

F

• fabrikant = manufacturer or owner of a factory
• familienaam = family name, surname, last name
• familienaam = surname, familyname
• familiewapen = coat-of-arms
• fotokopie = photocopy
• Fr. d.d. = abbreviation for French date. The First French Republic used between 1793 and 1805 the so-called Republican Calender. A year started on September 22. Every month lasted 30 days and were grouped to the seasons.

G

• geboorteakte = certificate of birth, birth certificate
• geboorteplaats = place of birth
• geboren = born
• gehuwd = married
• genealogie = genealogy
• genealogie en kwartierstaten = genealogies and family trees
• genealogische bestanden = genealogical files
• gepensioneerd = retired
• gescheiden = divorced
• geslacht = gender
• gezworene = member of the polder board
• grootmoeder = grandmother

H

• handarbeider = labourer
• handelaar = salesman, broker
• havenmeester = harbour master
• heelmeester = physician
• hengstenhouder = owner of stallions
• herbergier = innkeeper
• herder = shepherd
• Hervormd, Nederlands = Dutch Reformed
• horlogemaker = watchmaker
• houtzager = sawyer
• huishoudster = housekeeper
• huisknecht = manservant
• huisvrouw = houswife
• huwelijk = marriage
• huwelijksakte = marriage certificate
• huwelijkse bijlagen = marriage appendices
• hypothecair schuldenaar = mortgager
• hypotheek = mortgage
• hypotheekbewaarder = recorder of mortgages

I

• ijker = inspector of weights and measurers
• impost = impost, duty
• ingenieur = civil engineer
• inlandskramer = hawker
• inwoner = inhabitant

J

• journalier = labourer (male) (a French term)
• journaliere = labourer (female) (a French term)
• jr = abbreviation for junior
• jr = abbreviation for year / years

K

• kantoorbediende = office worker, clerk
• kantwerkster = lace worker
• kapelaan = chaplain
• kastelein = innkeeper or bartender, publican
• kerkenraad = church council
• kleermaker = taylor
• kleinlandman = small-scale farmer
• klompenmaker = maker of wooden shoes
• knecht = assistant, apprentice
• koehouder = cattle farmer
• koetsier = coachman
• koewachter = cowherd
• kok = cook
• koopman = salesman, merchant
• kroeghouder = owner of a bar or cafe
• kuiper = cooper
• kwartierstaat = pedigree chart, Ahnentafel

L

• landarbeider = farm labourer, agricultural labourer
• landbouwer = farmer, agriculturalist
• landman = farmer
• landvrouw = farmer’s wife
• leerling = apprentice
• letterzetter = compositor, typesetter
• leurder = hawker
• leurster = hawker (female)
• levenloos = still born
• lidmaat = (church) member
• logementhouder = hotel or lodging house operator
• loods = pilot

M

• m = abbreviation for male
• machinist = engine driver
• makelaar = house agent
• mannelijk = male
• marsdrager = pedlar, hawker
• matroos = sailor
• mattenmaker = mat maker
• meid = maid
• metselaar = bricklayer, mason
• milicien = soldier
• mnd = abbreviation for month / months
• molenaar = miller
• molenaarsknecht - miller’s helper
• monteur = mechanic
• mutsenmaakster - maker of caps, bonnets

N

• N N = Nomen Nescio = name unknown
• n.v.t. = abbreviation for irrelevant
• naaister = seamstress
• nakomeling(e) = descendant
• Nationale Militie = National Militia (?)
• Nederlands Hervormd = Dutch Reformed
• niet opgenomen = not mentioned

O

• o = abbreviation for unknown
• onbekend = unknown
• ondertrouw = intended marriage
• onderwijzer = teacher
• ongehuwd = unmarried
• onroerend goed = real property, estate
• opperhoutvester = chief forester
• opzichter = supervisor
• overl. = abbreviation for deceased
• overleden = deceased
• overlijden = death
• overlijdensakte = certificate of decease, death-certificate

P

• pagina = page
• particulier(e) = self-employed person
• patroniem = patronymic
• polderwerker = worker in a polder
• pottenbakker = potter
• predikant = clergyman, minister

R

• raadsheer = councellor
• rechtbank = court
• registers van de Burgerlijke Stand = Civil Register of Certificates
• rentmeester = steward

S

• schaapherder = shepherd, sheepherder (US)
• schepen = sheriff
• schilder = house-painter
• schipper = master mariner
• schipper = skipper (on interior waterways)
• schipper op de kleine vaart = master mariner
• schippersknecht = skipper’s assistant
• schoenmaker = shoemaker
• schoolmeester = schoolmaster, teacher
• schoonmoeder = mother-in-law
• schout = bailiff, sheriff, judge
• secetaresse = secretary
• secretaris = secretary
• sjouwer = porter
• slachter = butcher, one who slaughters animals
• slager = butcher
• smid = blacksmith
• smidsknecht = smith’s assistant
• soldaat = soldier
• spoorbeambte = railroad employee
• sr = abbreviation for senior
• stamboom = pedigree
• stoker = fireman (for an engine)
• stoommachinist = steam machinist
• strandwerker = beachworker

T

• tapijtwerker = carpetmaker
• tapper = tavern keeper
• tapster = tavern keeper, publican (female)
• tekenleraar = art teacher
• timmerman = carpenter
• touwslager = rope maker
• trouwakte = certificate of marriage, marriage certificate
• trouwboek = register of marriages
• tuinier = gardener

U

• uit dit huwelijk = from this marriage

V

• v = abbreviation for female
• varensgast = seafarer, seaman
• veehouder = cattle farmer
• veldwerker = fieldhand, labourer
• verpleger/verpleegster = nurse (male, female)
• vertegenwoordiger = salesman
• vertrokken = left
• verwant met = related to
• vissersknecht = fisherman’s assistant
• vleeshouwer/vleeschhouwer = butcher
• voerman = driver, carrier
• vonnis = sentence
• voornaam = first name
• voornaam = first name, given name (US)
• voorouders = ancestors
• vrachtrijder = carrier, lorrydriver
• vrouwelijk = female

W

• wagenmaker = cartwright, wagonmaker
• wdnr = abbreviation for widower
• wed = abbreviation for widow
• weduwe = widow
• weduwnaar = widower
• werkman = labourer (male)
• werkmeid/werkster = charwoman
• werktuigbouwkundige = mechanical engineer
• werkvrouw = labourer (female)
• wethouder = alderman
• wijk = district
• winkelbediende = shop assistant
• winkelier/winkelierster = shopkeeper
• wk = week / weeks

Z

• zager = sawyer
• zakenman = businessman
• zeeman = mariner
• zilversmid = silversmith
• zonder = without, no
• zonder beroep = no profession
• zn. or zoon = son

Thanks go to Cees Kloosterman for all his hard work in putting this together and for his permission to use on this site.

Cees Kloosterman: “Dutch Terminology”, from the Kloosterman Genealogy

The genealogy bug has bitten me again. I’ve spent the better part of the day updating the family tree database, modifying files and adding new Doddema’s and other family members to the mix. Loads of fun! I added probably about 50 individuals today with the help of a wonderful website: Genlias. I think I’ve mentioned it before and if I have…good for me. It’s amazing.  

If you remember I had mentioned that I had emailed several relatives about their Sinterklaas memories ie. what made it important to them. Geesjen Doddema responded with this and I’ll just paste the whole email here:

Hello Bernard,

Sinterklaas was: 1 week before the big day we were allowed to put a shoe next to the stove, just before we went to bed. In the shoe, we put something for the (grey) horse of Sinterklaas, for example an apple, or a carrot, or a head of curly kail. And ofcourse the horse got some water in a bowl. Then you had to sing a nice Sinterklaas-song and go to bed, without the usual complaining or dawdling.

Sinterklaas was riding on his horse over the rooftops, and Zwarte Piet climbed down the chimney to put something in your shoe, and take the food for the horse. The next morning you found something in your shoe, a little chocolate animal, or a small present. And you had to be on your best behaviour all the time, because Zwarte Piet was listening through the chimney wther you were a nice boy or girl. Worst case scenario (according to the grown ups) was: if you behaved badly, Zwarte Piet would put you in his bag, and take you away from your parents, onto the steamship to Spain.

On the evening of the 5th you had to sing all the Sinterklaas-songs you knew and hope for a really big present. That evening we became hot chocolate with “speculaaskoekjes”, or a “speculaaspop”, or gingerbread or ginger-nuts. The week before Sinterklaas, we ate ofcourse hotchpotch of curly kail, or “hete bliksem” which is a hotchpotch of potatoes, carrots and onions. Pure coincidence that you did that in your shoe the day before!

(You will have to ask your father what speculaaskoekjes are, I could not find that in my dictionary).

I hope this is the sort of story you were looking for.

Met vriendelijke groeten,

Geesjen Doddema, Harkstede

Thanks Geesjen for sharing. I look forward to any other submissions. My family and I love to hear how Doddema’s around the world celebrate their favorite holidays.

Like the children in America believe in Santa Claus, I believed in Sinterklaas, also known as Sint Nicolaas or De Goedheiligman. Every year on the second or third Saturday of November Sinterklaas comes with his steamship (the stoomboot) from Spain in the Netherlands. Now I know that steamship never came from Spain, but when I was little, I believed so. A week later he came in our village, every year it was a great celebration.My brother is five years older, so he had to play for years he also believed in Sinterklaas.

Some nights my mother told me to put a shoe in front of the stove, because the servants of Sinterklaas (called: zwarte pieten) would come through the chimney at night and put a present in my shoe. Just like Santa does to put it in a stocking. I always wondered how zwarte piet could manage that, because he had to screw the whole front of the stove of there to get into our living room. One day I asked my mother about that and she opened a small window just in case zwarte piet did not use the chimney. I remember that one night I’ve put my shoe in front of the stove I lied awake, a bit scared, because every minute zwarte piet could come into our living room. My room was next to the living room, so when I wanted to use the bathroom, I had to go through the living room. I was too scared to do that. Somehow I fell asleep and the next morning, very early, I watched if zwarte piet and Sinterklaas had brought something. And yes, there was a big present next to my shoe! When I went to my grandparents (the parents of my mother), my grandmother told me that Sinterklaas had left a present for us. The presents at my grandparents always came with a poem (a ‘Sinterklaasgedicht’) about how we behaved that year. Mostly we got new pajamas and we were always very happy with them.

And then, on the 5th of december, that was the day! Sinterklaas came at our school in the morning and we did sing when Sinterklaas walked into the school. The zwarte pieten always had bags with short bread (pepernoten) and other candy to scatter. And also we got a little present at the school. When I went home in the afternoon I was always very excited about the coming evening, when Sinterklaas would bring a lot of presents. At night, when it became dark, my other grandparents (the parents of my father) came and we waited together, while we were eating a piece of ‘banketletter’ (a typical Sinterklaas-related delicacy) till Sinterklaas and his zwarte pieten would arrive with the presents. Suddenly my father jumped up from the chair and said: I think I heard something! I was too scared to watch at the door. My father first watched and then he called us to tell Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet had left the presents at our back door! And there they were, a basket full of presents. We opened them impatient while our parents and grandparents enjoyed our happy faces. The next day we could play with our new presents, but I always was a bit disappointed that Sinterklaas went home (back to Spain) already, now I had to wait a whole year again for Sinterklaas to arrive again.

I hope you enjoy the story, It was also fun for me to write, it brings back a lot of memories.

Please also read the information with this link, because it also says something about racialization in relation with the ‘zwarte pieten’. It is a misunderstanding that ‘zwarte pieten’ have something to do with racism, it is just a tradition, I hope you understand that:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinterklaas