Metadata: Handels and Ambachtsregister. Transfer 2007
Collection
- Country:
- Belgium
- Holding institution:
- National Archives of Belgium 2 – Joseph Cuvelier Repository
- Holding institution (official language):
- Archives Générales du Royaume 2 – Dépôt Joseph Cuvelier
- Postal address:
- Hopstraat 26-28 / Rue du Houblon 26-28, 1000 Bruxelles
- Phone number:
- +32 (0)2 274 15 00
- Web address:
- http://www.arch.be/
- Email:
- agr_ar_2@arch.be
- Reference number:
- NAB2-Brussels-545-443
- Title:
- Handels and Ambachtsregister. Transfer 2007
- Title (official language):
- Handels- en Ambachtsregister. Overdracht 2007
- Creator/accumulator:
- Rechtbank van koophandel; Tribunal de commerce
- Date(s):
- 1944/2003
- Extent:
- 140 linear metres (handelsregister); 1218 files (ambachtsregister)
- Scope and content:
- This fonds consists of two main parts. We firstly note the files of the handelsregister (company register). These files are again subdivided in two series. The first series is formed by the files nos. 161841 until 322097, opened between 1944 and September 1964. They contain forms related to declarations of inscription, of modification, of transfer, of discontinuation etc. of the activities of the company. The files numbered upwards of 322097 (opened between October 1964 and 2003) are currently still kept by the Rechtbank van Koophandel; the finding aids (card indexes) however are preserved in ARA2-AGR2. The second series of files of the handelsregister covers the period October 1964 until 2003. They exclusively concern deletions from the handelsregister, following declarations of deaths or discontinuation of the company, and its possible consequences (e.g. transfer, relocation of commercial activities). The pre-war files of the handelsregister (opened before 3 September 1944) were destroyed in the fire of the Brussels Palais de Justice in 1944. This sub-fonds does, however, contain a partial copy of the old card index giving access to the files. These card contain summary but essential information such as the name, first name, date of birth of the merchant, the start date and location of the company, as well as the date of termination or modification of its commercial activity. A second major part of the fonds is formed by the files of the ambachtsregister (register of crafts). These files contain similar information on companies which essentially provided labour instead of goods; from 1958 they had to be registered as ‘ambachtsonderneming’. This fonds contains the files opened in the years 1971-2003. (This fonds is indirectly related to the Jewish population.)
- Archival history:
- The earliest files of the handelsregister were destroyed in the fire of the Brussels Palais de Justice in 1944.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- The Rechtbank van koophandel / Tribunal de commerce (Commercial Courts), created in 1791 in the Verenigde Departementen, are composed of lay judges experienced in commercial cases, as well as a professional judge as chairman. Today, Belgium counts 27 Commercial Courts. They deal with commercial disputes between traders within the framework of commercial law (regarding sums totalling over €1,860) as well as all sorts of conflicts and applications of business and corporate law (notably bankruptcies). In addition, they deal with appeals against judgements of the Justice of the Peace in commercial matters. Since 1927, the Commercial Courts also held the so-called handelsregister (company register), in which all traders and companies active in Belgium had to register. Since 2003 the handelsregister is integrated in the Belgian database Kruispuntbank van Ondernemingen. As a consequence of all these tasks and competences, the (still under-exploited) archives of the Commercial Courts are of key importance to the study of the economic history of Belgium – see in particular the bankruptcy files and the judgements in business cases. For prosopographical research too, these archives are of particular interest. Lastly, we point out the series of documents resulting from the ‘extrajudicial’ functions of these courts – the handelsregister but also various types of documents deposited at the court (e.g. expert reports, minutes of public sales, procurations, contracts). (http://justitie.belgium.be/nl/rechterlijke_orde/hoven_en_rechtbanken/rechtbank_van_koophandel/; K. Velle & P. Drossens, “De rechterlijke macht”, in P. van den Eeckhout & G. Vanthemsche (ed.), Bronnen voor de studie van het hedendaagse België 19e – 21e eeuw. Tweede herziene en uitgebreide uitgave, Brussel, Koninklijke Commissie voor Geschiedenis / Commission Royale d’Histoire, 2009, pp. 619-650.)
- Access points: locations:
- Belgium
- Subject terms:
- Professions
- Professions--Crafts
- Trade and commerce
- Finding aids:
- Various card indexes and transfer lists exist. Searches are however conducted by the personnel of ARA2-AGR2. Researchers are asked to send their request, as detailed as possible, to agr_ar_2@arch.be.
- Yerusha Network member:
- State Archives of Belgium
