Frontiers in Genealogy and Heraldry

This theme is inspired by modern times by which borders disappear in many areas and many ways.
Borders can be taken literally as well as figuratively. Borders are traditionally exceeded by merchants and migrants. Closed borders create differences in language and customs. Boundaries can change so people can come under a different legal system, without moving out. Borders are changing or disappear, not only in administrative terms. 

Modern developments such as the new name law and genetic genealogy (DNA) constitute a challenge for the genealogical and heraldic Sciences. Furthermore, the European unification affects the appreciation of one's own culture and the interest of national heritage. By exceding borders one learns to recognize foreign cultures and practicing family history in the broadest sense.

Maastricht is pre-eminently a city that lends itself to this theme. One of the oldest cities in the Netherlands already in Roman times, with a bridge over the Maas, connecting  Hainaut and Aachen. During the Republic a city with two masters: the Duke of Brabant and the Prince-Bishop of Liège practiced their authority. No area in Netherlands has such a complicated political history as the province of Limburg.

Maastricht a city with a great historical heritage, which like no other is suitable to serve as a setting for this Congress. Architecture, cultural life, museums and culinary highlights create Maastricht into a special piece of Netherlands, interwoven with its neighbours, Germany and Belgium.

This Congress will be organised on the initiative of the Dutch genealogical Association, the largest association in the Netherlands, and the Central Bureau for Genealogy, the centre for family history. Each of these has more than 10,000 members/friends.
 

We are looking forward to meet you at Maastricht!

Roelof Vennik, president of the Dutch Genealogical Society

Leo Voogt, managing director of the Central Bureau of Genealogy