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Research in the Kingdom of Belgium is difficult but not impossible. It is a young country that was not formed until the mid-19th century (1839).
It was first inhabited by Gaulish tribes. From the first to the nineteenth centuries the land mass in the western most part of Europe that was to be called the Low Countries was ruled by the Roman Empire, The Holy Roman Empire of German Nations (1000 years during which the bishopric was a vassal state and member of the Lower-Rhennish Westphalian Circle), Netherland, Spain and France (1794-1815 during which time Liege was sacked, conquered, the bishipric dissolved and its name changed to Deparment of lower/lesser Meuse). [Meuse is a river]
After Napoleon was defeated and Belgium was formed it divided itself into three regions: The Walloon Region, the Flanders Region and the Brussels-City Region. Luxemburg and Netherland were also Kingdoms, too. Today the Province of Liege is in Walloon Region, while Limburg, which is made of mostly from the old County of Loon, is in the Flanders Region. Limburg was further divided between Netherland and Belgium.
I DO NOT KNOW if modern words like Benelux and Bruxxel is offensive or not. I would not use it in a formal request.
Where the records are held depends upon the Region where the ancestor lived. My ancestors were in Overpelt as early as 1550. Look what happened:
Overpelt County of Loon, [Pelt-Grevensbroek], [bishopric of Liege], to the
North-Kemper Limburg, Flanders Region, Belgium. today.
In the Flanders Region the State Archivist is in Hasselt.
The oldest records were written in Latin. Modern translators transribe into Dutch and thence English. As some areas of western Belgium were heavily influenced by the German language, do not be surprised if your ancient one has a German name. After all, the bishopric of Liege was ruled by a German Emperor for nearly a thousnd years.
When requesting help it is very important to remember the person to whom you are wriiing is the subject of a Monarchy. It is not the church in Utah. The rules of proper address are different and your reply will most likely be in Dutch. Bable Fish does an excellent tranlation of words and pages.
Please include the following infomation. (Here is Dutch equivilent for simple words found in most old records for your personal use. .
Name (naamen)
Date of birth (geboren) or baptism (gedoopt) or death (overleden)
Name of Church or Town where event occured. Province will help, too (Limburg is a Province and so is Liege)
Male (zoon) and Female (Dochtor) and children (kindren)
Met: (married/ united with/joined with). Church: Kerk. Year: Voor. te: at/in.
van: of/from. en: and
Most of these old Latin records contain name, date, place, church or not, name of parents and some time the names of the mother's parents if known. N.N. = NOT KNOWN
Good Luck!
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