Militieregisters — Dutch Conscription Records (1811-1940)

Search method: OpenArchieven API

curl -s "https://api.openarchieven.nl/1.1/records/search.json?name=SURNAME&sourcetype=Militieregisters&number_show=25&lang=nl"

Parameters

Example searches

# All militieregisters for "Knijf" (46 results)
curl -s "https://api.openarchieven.nl/1.1/records/search.json?name=Knijf&sourcetype=Militieregisters&number_show=25&lang=nl"

# Filter to Barneveld
curl -s "https://api.openarchieven.nl/1.1/records/search.json?name=Knijf&sourcetype=Militieregisters&eventplace=Barneveld&number_show=25&lang=nl"

# Brouwer in Utrecht
curl -s "https://api.openarchieven.nl/1.1/records/search.json?name=Brouwer&sourcetype=Militieregisters&archive_code=hua&number_show=25&lang=nl"

Response fields

{
  "personname": "Adrianus Wilhelm Knijf",
  "relationtype": "Geregistreerde",
  "eventtype": "Registratie",
  "eventdate": {"day": 9, "month": 9, "year": 1873},
  "eventplace": ["Rotterdam"],
  "sourcetype": "Militieregisters",
  "archive_code": "srt",
  "archive_org": "Stadsarchief Rotterdam",
  "identifier": "9dfdae47-daaa-c4f9-9240-f9377df277ef",
  "url": "https://www.openarchieven.nl/srt:9dfdae47-..."
}

Important: The API returns only name, date, place, and URL. The genealogically rich fields (parents, physical description, occupation, regiment) are on the scan image linked from the record page. Always click through to the URL to read the full register entry.

Record detail

curl -s "https://api.openarchieven.nl/1.1/records/show.json?archive=ARCHIVE_CODE&identifier=UUID&lang=nl"

Workflow

1. Search by surname (+ optional place filter)
2. Review matches — filter by date/place to find the right person
3. Open the url to view the full record page
4. Read the scan image for parents, physical description, regiment

Limitations

• Shallow index: API returns name + date + place only. Rich fields require reading the scan.
• No first name filter: Only surname search is supported.
• Partial coverage: 20 of ~130 Dutch archives. Major gaps in Gelderland, Zeeland, Groningen, Drenthe, Overijssel, Limburg.
• Also in WieWasWie: Some records (especially Noord-Holland 1870-1941) are in WieWasWie with richer indexed fields. Check both.

Output format

## Militieregister Result

**Person:** [name]
**Registration:** [date] in [place]
**Archive:** [archive name] ([archive code])
**Record URL:** [url]

**Confidence:** Tier B — official conscription register from [archive]
(Note: parents and physical description on scan, not in index)