East Flanders

Research in East Flanders, Belgium

Charles of Lorraine, founder of Brussels c. 979

The Belgian province of East Flanders is a great place to do research because of the wealth of historical material that can be found in the province's many archives, libraries, and other repositories. Some of East Flanders' best resources for historical research can be found at the provincial capital in Ghent, as well as various archives, churches, and libraries throughout the area. Many records are also now available online at a number of great websites including Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, FamilySearch, and the State Archives of Belgium, all of which have large searchable databases relating to Belgian history and genealogy.

There are a number of ways to get copies of vital records (birth, marriage, and death certificates) in Belgium. Belgium began countrywide registration of vital records in 1796, but church parish registers, which would include baptismal, marriage, and burial records, can be found throughout Belgium, many dating back to the 1600s, or even earlier. Some of these records are now available online at Ancestry.com and FamilySearch, or on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, most civil and church records in Belgium would be found at local church parishes and civil registration offices at the local level with the help of a professional genealogist.

The Family History Library holds a large collection of records relating to Belgium. This is the largest and most important genealogy collection in the world and is worth a visit to explore the many billions of records that can be found there. Published material consists of books, microfilm, microfiche, and other records for all areas of Belgium. The Family History Library also has smaller family history centers located throughout the world where you can order microfilm and have these records shipped to the local area where you live. The library has also transcribed and indexed billions of Belgian church records, civil registers, published histories, censuses, and other types of records which are available online at FamilySearch.org.

Genealogy Resources in Antwerp, Belgium

Many Belgian family records can be found online and at various archives and libraries located throughout the country. Many millions of records aren't yet available online, though, and many of these are awaiting your discovery at the local level at civil registry offices, church parishes, cemeteries, and elsewhere in Belgium. To find these and other records, click on the links below to discover more information about the specific places where your ancestors lived. You'll find information on these pages that will lead you to the specific documentation you're searching for.

It is important to keep in mind when doing research that the names and boundaries of certain areas in Belgium have changed over the past few hundred years. For example, your ancestors may have lived in one place and when borders were redrawn records relating to your family might have been located in another area entirely. When looking for records it is therefore a good idea to search in adjacent areas. Following is a complete list of Belgium's present administrative areas, along with links leading to where to find records in all of these places.

Municipalities

Aalst

Aalter

Assenede

Berlare

Beveren

Brakel

Buggenhout

Deinze

Denderleeuw

Dendermonde

De Pinte

Destelbergen

Eeklo

Erpe-Mere

Evergem

Gavere

Geraardsbergen

Ghent

Haaltert

Hamme

Herzele

Horebeke

Kaprijke

Kluisbergen

Kruibeke

Kruisem

Laarne

Lebbeke

Lede

Lierde

Lievegem

Lochristi

Lokeren

Maarkedal

Maldegem

Melle

Merelbeke

Moerbeke

Nazareth

Ninove

Oosterzele

Oudenaarde

Ronse

Sint-Gillis-Waas

Sint-Laureins

Sint-Lievens-Houtem

Sint-Martens-Latem

Sint-Niklaas

Stekene

Temse

Waasmunster

Wachtebeke

Wetteren

Wichelen

Wortegem-Petegem

Zele

Zelzate

Zottegem

Zulte

Zwalm

Arrondissement

Aalst

Ghent

Eeklo

Dendermonde

Sint-Niklaas

Oudenaarde

Dendermonde

Ghent

Aalst

Dendermonde

Ghent

Eeklo

Aalst

Ghent

Aalst

Ghent

Aalst

Dendermonde

Aalst

Oudenaarde

Eeklo

Oudenaarde

Sint-Niklaas

Oudenaarde

Dendermonde

Aalst

Oudenaarde

Ghent

Sint-Niklaas

Oudenaarde

Eeklo

Ghent

Aalst

Ghent

Oudenaarde

Sint-Niklaas

Eeklo

Aalst

Ghent

Sint-Niklaas

Dendermonde

Ghent

Dendermonde

Oudenaarde

Dendermonde

Eeklo

Aalst

Ghent

Oudenaarde

Province

East Flanders

Region

Flanders