Dutch version

The Netherlands are divided into 12 provinces and about 500 municipalities called gemeenten. Since 1815 the number of gemeenten has declined, first slowly but much faster in recent years, due to an ongoing reorganisation. On these pages you find information about this aspect of the history of the gemeenten: combinations, annexation of parts of gemeenten, creations or abolishments, changes in names etc.On the site of METATOPOS  you find an extensive explanation about placenames and other names in the Netherlands. Also lists of names are available there.

Two lists give access to the data:

• A complete list of all names of gemeenten that ever existed (up to and including January 1st, 2006) in The Netherlands. This list is 100 KB.
• A list of gemeenten existing op January 1st, 2006 in Zuid-Holland (7 KB).

By clicking on a name, information about that gemeente appears, including the names of related gemeenten. You can follow the names as links through the data.

• The data have been updated including the changes of January 1st, 2006.
• For changes before 1972 the datacollection is not complete.
• This site is "frozen".

As the data are presented in Dutch, this list with translations can be useful.

Sources:

• Afdeling Structuuronderzoek en Programstudie van de Dienst van Stadsontwikkeling en Wederopbouw Rotterdam. Lijst van Nederlandse gemeenten sinds 1830, waarvan de grens is gewijzigd, waarvan de naam is veranderd, die zijn opgeheven, nieuw gevormd of ingepolderd. 2 delen. Rotterdam, 1968.
• Provincie Zuid-Holland: the file CBSGBA updated yearly with information of the ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken.
• CBS. Bevolking van de Nederlandse gemeenten per 1 januari .... Voorburg, published yearly: table "Grenswijzigingen tussen, resp. opheffing, samenvoeging, nieuwvorming en naamswijziging van gemeenten per...". New publication: "Demografische kerncijfers per gemeente."
• CBS. Data about the houses, living-units ("wooneenheden"), recreationhousing and the capacity of special housing buildings, involved in a reorganisation of gemeente-boundaries. From 1-1-1993 onward.