Dutch Open Data: Which resource to cite?

Question

An increasing number of Dutch Archives make their recortds available as Open Data for free, in line with Dutch legislation promoting the reuse of public data. This is usually in addition to them publishing the data on their own website.

The Dutch website openarchives publishes this data, currently 164,000,000+ records. Openarchives is a Partner Site of Familysearch, so these records are also published on FS. I notice an increasing number of non-Dutch members citing Familysearch (the end of the line for the data). 

My personal preference is to directly search and cite the originating archive, because

• No detour via Familysearch and Openarchives needed
• More details may be available at the originating archive
• Gives credits to the work done by the Dutch archivsts and volunteers making all this data freely available

Opinions please!

Answer 1

This makes sense to me (speaking as one who cites family search in part because of the convenience). When I cite find a grave, I leave family search abd go to that site. It makes sense to do the same with open archives as it is fewer clicks to get to the real source and there may be an image (which even if I can't read, others can).

Comments

I really appreciate it that you will include (a link to) an image of the original source document, the best source possible. Thank you, W.!

Answer 2

I see your point, in a way, but it makes sense to cite the information where we find it. Since I am more likely to use Family Search than a Dutch archive, I'd cite family search.  Neither is wrong.  Language facility might also be a barrier.

Comments

For me the big advantage of familysearch over openarchives is that you can just copy the citation instead of having to put it together yourself.

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J., Joke, yes I see your points too, of language and ease of citing. On the other hand the best citation in my opinion would be (a link to) an image of the original source document, and that's not available on the FS side of the partnership.

Answer 3

I appreciate that so many records are now available at openarchives.  I just took a quick look at it (it's been at least a year since I went there).  My first Dutch ancestors I tried looking up aren't in it yet.  A few others I tried were, but I didn't immediately find a way to refine the searches in a way I understand or find useful.  I'd have to play around with it a bit for it to be helpful to me.  I also didn't see a link to any original documents.  

FamilySearch, for the Dutch records it has, at least lists a place you can find the records if you want to look them up.  But I still prefer using the province / area databases listed at geneaknowhow.net.  Some of them provide a direct link to an original document.  I also like using the original documents listed there for individual cities and towns.  They're just a lot more time consuming to dig through.  

I understand the problem people who don't speak or understand Dutch have with the databases.  I've taught a few people how to use them and gave them a vocabulary translation list.  .Is there a way we can put together some kind of tutorial for people who are interested?

Comments

You probably know openarchives also has an English user interface, and that makes it easier for non_Dutch speaking members.

Also there is a Dutch Roots Portal with helpful information, and also a link to a glossary of Dutch terms.