Bibliographica Vocabuli Neerlandica

This bibliography is a list of resources I have found for the documentation of words used in the Low Countries prior to 1600, particularly with regard to spelling, meaning, usage, and etymology. This focus is consistent with that of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), and notes on the usefulness of the books are written with this purpose in mind; they should not be taken further.

Though all of these books have been somewhat useful, those which I have found to be particularly good for names research are indicated by a red lion.

--Walraven van Nijmege
This list was last updated 12 November 1996.

Bouman, A. C.
Middelnederlandse Bloemlezing met Grammatica

Publication: 1948 (2nd ed); 235 + vi pages
Language: Dutch
Comments: Contents, Numerous sample texts
Coverage: 1250-1550
Description: This book is a grammar (pp. 1-70) and reader for Medieval Dutch. The selections for reading are annotated for particular words, and some of these selections come from documents of the Middle Ages. The grammar section is better than average for this sort of book, with many references to the readings.
Recommendations: For linguists and those already familiar with Dutch.

Van der Voort van der Kleij, J. J.
Verdam Middelnederlandsch Handwoordenboek -- Supplement

Publication: 1983; Leiden, Antwerpen; Martinus Nijhoff; 354 pages
Language: Dutch
Comments: Includes info on gender, spelling variation, dates, and a bibliography of sources
Coverage: Middle Ages
Description: This is a Supplement to Verdam's Woordenboek. As such, it contains only a limited selection of vocabulary, though the quality of research which went into the book surpasses the original.
Recommendations: Excellent source, but incomplete in itself.

Verdam, J.
Middelnederlandsch Handwoordenboek

Publication: repr. 1981; Leiden, Antwerpen; Martinus Nijhoff; 811 pages
Language: Dutch
Comments: Includes information on gender and spelling variation
Coverage: Middle Ages
Description: This is a dictionary for translating medieval Dutch into modern. Entries are "alphabetical" (c=k, ij=y) and are cross-referenced. This is a standard work, sometimes called the MNW. See also the Supplement to this book by Van der Voort van der Kleij, above.
Recommendations: Excellent source, but no specific dates or citations are included.

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