Section Historic Archives

This page has been automatically translated from French into English by a translation software. Automatic translations are not as accurate as translations made by professional human translators. Nevertheless these pages can help you understand information published by the City of Brussels.

   

Collection of the historic archives

This collection of the historic archives contains interesting sources for the study of the guilds, the transformations of the city, trade, the means of transportation, the administration, the bourgeoisie,.... Let us indicate the remarkable collection of Cartularia, dating from the 14th to the 16th centuries, containing among others property certificates, privileges and prescriptions of the City.

Collection of lawsuits

These 25.000 pieces include the lawsuits of the Ancient R­égime returned by the urban Magistrate, having authority in private law. (Current inventory)

Collection of charters

This collection of charters consists essentially of acts, on parchment or on paper, of private interest relative to sales, constitutions of pensions, transfers of ground, successions of properties and inheritances,...

Collection of church books

The archives keep a collection of 516 church books relative to the parishes of the City of Brussels, Haren, Laeken, Neder-Over-Heembeek, as well as to the hospitals and to the Protestant and Genevan churches. This collection contains one of the oldest church books of Belgium: the 'wedding register of the parish Saint Michel and Gudule' dating from 1482.

• Genealogical searches