About us
Dutch Family Roots is founded by the Amsterdam historian and writer Rogier Overman.
Biography
Rogier Overman (born 1972) studied modern history with a specialism in business history at the University of Amsterdam. He received his master’s degree in 2001 with a thesis on the history of the Amsterdam student doctors. Overman subsequently turned this thesis into a self-published book, which was awarded by the Royal Academy of Medicine in Belgium. The book had a circulation of one thousand copies and received publicity in various Dutch periodicals and newspapers.
In the following two decades, Rogier Overman authored several books on the history of different organizations , including the Amsterdam University Association (AUV), and the Rijkspostspaarbank, Postcheque- en Girodienst and Postbank (three predecessors of the ING Bank). He also wrote a book on the contemporary history of the ING Group, as well as a book on the Dutch School of Mensendieck Teachers. Additionally, he worked as an editor and co-author on several other publications.
In addition to his book-writing, Rogier Overman also assists individuals in writing their own books, offering help with research, writing, and finding historical photos. His own writing focuses on articles and books about the histories of families, individuals, companies, and other organizations in the Netherlands and the former Dutch East Indies. Related to this work, Overman does daily research in digital sources, archives, libraries and historical institutes.
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In 2023, Rogier Overman launched the website Dutch Family Roots. The various services offered on the site are based on his expertise and over twenty years of experience as a historian. These services are particularly aimed at people with Dutch ancestry living all over the world (see home), as well as everyone who wish to conduct research on Dutch subjects such as historic houses or boats.
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Rogier Overman is an independent professional historian and secretary of the Dutch association of independent professional historians called Ondernemers in Geschiedenis. His passion is to track down the unknown little jewels in history and present them to the public with all their brilliance. With Dutch Family Roots, he aims to do this especially for people with their own little jewels in their own Dutch family histories.
