Some of the major records sources that can be used for genealogy research in Netherlands include:
- Birth and marriage records were kept by some towns as early as 1564
- Death records were kept by some towns as early as 1668
- Civil registration of birth, marriage and death since 1811
- National census records were recorded as early as 1795 and local censuses as early as 1689
- Population registers since 1850 (similar to a continuous census that is kept up to date, showing whole households and addresses)
- Land records were kept by the towns and counties from the time they were settled
- Court and notarial records
- Wills, including the Central Will Register for those who died after 1890 and left a will
- Churches kept records of the christenings, marriages, burials, or other information about their members
- Newspapers were written in many areas and time periods that contain information such as notices of marriages, notices of death, and obituaries
- Military records since 1500s
- Town and county histories about the settlers and their families
- Naturalization and citizenship records were recorded since the formation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815
- Ship passenger lists, tax lists, and town records were recorded for many areas
- Tax records