In the Netherlands civil registration started when Napoleon conquered the country, about 1811 or 1812, so you are well into civil registration by 1837. Prior to that there are church records, just like England. Have you looked at GenLias? Do any of yours appear on that? There are also Bevolkingsregisters, but I don't know offhand what date they start. I have one before me at the moment for Wouter van de Waal born 1786, died 1858, so they started before 1858. Also, like Germany, when you went from one town to another, you had to register with the Town Hall. Sometimes it is a problem finding exactly where records are kept. It doesn't seem as easy as England with county record offices. There seem to be layers of Record Offices. I think the top layer is Den Haag. But try GenLias and have you looked at
www.meertens.knaw.nl? claytonbradley
