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My current Geni focus...

Golden Ages

Some families stay in the same region for generations, others move around. However, all families will discover that, somewhere among their ancestors, they have someone who CAME from 'somewhere else' - and some who LEFT for other horizons. I have a special focus on migrations in the Low Countries (Holland, Belgium...) and, by extension, on the migration of others to the North (French, Spanish, Italians, Germans...). Interestingly, these migration paths coalesce around the 'Golden Ages' - times of significant economic, political and cultural upheaval in 16th century Antwerp and Brussels, and 17th century Holland. The influx of people 'from elsewhere' was tremendous. And, the Low Countries became a prime gateway for migration to the 'new worlds' as well (the Americas, Africa, Asia...). Connecting the dots between families in those 'golden ages' should contribute to a better understanding of families and their origins for all Geni users. Check the projects I'm working on here...

New Amsterdam

New Amsterdam and the old Dutch province/colony of New Netherland are on the 'edge' of genealogy. Millions of Americans have ancestors that first set foot on American soil in New Amsterdam, between 1609-1674. Likewise, millions of Europeans and Africans have living relatives in the US, without even knowing it - simply because people suddenly 'disappear' from the tree', somewhere in the 17th century. In the New Amsterdam project and its many related subprojects, many volunteers are working together to identify the immigrant progenitors and pull together the family trees. We provide access to sources and documents. Please join! We now also started a Facebook page and discussion forum to facilitate the dialogue with all those who are not on Geni but have an interest in their New Amsterdam ancestry.

Hommen-Homs in The Netherlands

Like everyone, I'm also focused on the history and orgins of my family. Over the past 500 years, our history revolves by and large around the city of Roermond (NL) - with 'off-shoots' to Rotterdam, Bergen op Zoom, and other places in The Netherlands and abroad. Currently, we've brought together about 150 living descendants of our progenitor, Gielis Homms, born 1556 in Weert (NL). Before that year, our history definitely elsewhere - but we're still searching.

Homs-Hommen elswhere

d'Oms Dynasty. In pursuit of a possible theory about my family's 'name-bearer' ancestors, I'm working on the Oms and Homs families that have their roots in the French Roussillon region. A link to Holland my exist through the intensive trade relations between Perpignan and northern Europe, through Bruges and Antwerp - in the 14th-15th century. The d'Oms family has played a prominent role in the formation of the kingdom of Aragon and (later) Catalunia and Mallorca.

Cathars and Cathar Credentes. In the same vein as the previous project, a better understanding of the Cathar movement and its impact on the politics and trade of Occitania and Catalunia in the 12th-13th century may be of interest.

Graafschap Loon

Also known under the genealogy lines of 'van Loon' and 'de Looz'. Through my grandmother, I'm connected to the Berthouts van Grimbergen, lords of Mechelen. They were a major dynasty in Brabant and linked in many ways to the counts van Loon/de Looz (obviously to counter the power of the lords of Leuven - the latter ultimately winning as dukes of Brabant). The nearby Loon county, which corresponds largely to the current Belgian province of Limburg was pivotal in the geopolitics of the 10th-12th century. My ancestral lines lead into the van Loon, so obviously I take an interest in this area. Check the Counts de Looz / van Loon project for more information.