Antecedentia - Genealogy in the Netherlands

08/06/2026

Martin Van Buren learned English after he learned Dutch. He is the only president in American history who spoke English as a second language.

All previous presidents were born as British subjects before the American Revolution. Van Buren was born in 1782, after the war had ended, making him the first natural-born citizen to hold the office. His family spoke Dutch at home, and the community around him spoke Dutch as well. He did not learn English until he attended school as a child.

Van Buren spoke English with a noticeable Dutch accent throughout his life. Political opponents sometimes mocked his accent, but voters did not hold it against him. He served as vice president under Andrew Jackson before being elected president in his own right.

The Dutch influence on Van Buren extended beyond language. He was raised in the Dutch Reformed Church. His nickname, Old Kinderhook, came from the Dutch town of Kinderhook, New York, where he was born. The term OK may have originated from that nickname.

A president who learned the language of his country after learning the language of his ancestors. The only commander-in-chief who thought in Dutch before he spoke in English. 🇺🇸🗣️🇳🇱😮

03/06/2026

On this day, June 3, in 1621, the United Provinces of the Netherlands issued a charter to the Dutch West India Company, granting the company a monopoly over Dutch trade and colonization in the Atlantic. The first line of the charter showcases the Dutch priority on trade and exploration: “the welfare of their inhabitants depends principally on navigation and trade.” The charter further gave the Company almost total governing and judicial power, including the ability to “appoint and remove governors, officers of justice and other public officers, for the preservation of the places, keeping good order, police and justice in like manner for the promoting of trade.” Already by 1623, the Company had created plans to settle New Netherland.

📸: Britannica

27/05/2026

Exciting news — as of today I have taken on the role of Chair of the Register of Qualified Genealogists!
It has been a privilege to serve as Vice Chair over the past months, and I very much look forward to leading the Board of Directors in the year ahead alongside our new Vice Chair, Lisa CeeDee, and the rest of a fantastic team.

If you have any questions about RQG or what we do, feel free to drop me a message.

23/05/2026

Looking forward to my trip to Glasgow in June. I get to speak at the University of Strathclyde Beyond The Family Tree Hybrid Conference, about ancestral tourism: how to bring genealogy, cultural heritage and travelling together to form a meaningful and fun experience.

06/05/2026

Why Antecedentia as a business name?

The name brings together two Latin words: antecedents — those who came before us — and scientia — disciplined, rigorous knowledge. Together they capture what professional genealogy is really about: not just collecting names and dates, but truly knowing the people who shaped your family’s history.

That is what Antecedentia stands for. 🌿

Visit https://antecedentia.com for more details on our services.

Are you looking for a professional genealogist in the Netherlands? We offer several services to assist you with your Dutch genealogy or family history.

30/04/2026

We welcomed nearly 100 genealogists and family historians in Birmingham (UK) on Saturday 25 April 2026 for our biannual family history conference.

The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Exploring the Past, Embracing the Future’. In line with RQG’s commitment to excellence, the programme emphasised evidence-based practice, critical analysis, and the clear communication of research findings. Networking was a core element of the day, with informal opportunities to connect with peers.

More impressions on our website: https://www.qualifiedgenealogists.org/2026-conference

29/04/2026

I am delighted to announce that I have been officially elected as a director of the Register of Qualified Genealogists. I look forward to working with the seven other board members on new initiatives for this important organisation.
Some of us were in Birmingham this weekend to attend the biennal conference.

25/04/2026

Today, I'm participating in the Register of Qualified Genealogists 2026 Conference in Birmingham. The keynote speaker in the morning was Professor Rebecca Probert, who spoke about research on bigamy in family histories. After lunch Sophie Kay took the stage and talked about ethical aspects of using DNA in genealogical research.
It's wonderful to see so many genealogists from the UK, the US and Europe coming together for an in-person event. There should be more of these in the (near) future!