A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Balen family of Netherlands.
Reg. 7256 · Dutch, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à deux bourdons de pélerin d'azur, passés en saut., acc. de trois roses de”
NetherlandsDordrecht, c. 1815
Where the Balen Arms Were Recorded
Dordrecht
Map of Netherlands showing where the Balen arms are recorded
The Balen arms were recorded in Dordrecht, c. 1815.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
Region
Dordrecht
Town
Dordrecht
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Balen Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the Balen arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Balen Family in Netherlands
The family name Balen has deep roots in the Netherlands, with historical records confirming the presence of the family in the city of Dordrecht by the year 1815. The name itself is likely locational in origin, as it is closely tied to the town of Balen located in the northern part of Belgium. During the early nineteenth century, Dordrecht served as a vital hub for trade and shipping, which often encouraged families to move between the Dutch provinces and the neighboring regions of Flanders. As the family established itself in this bustling river city, they became part of the local social fabric during a time of significant political change in the Low Countries. By tracing their residence in Dordrecht, we see a family that was part of the urban growth and economic development that defined the region during the early years of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bale
Old French term for a bale or bundle of goods.
This name
BalenA topographic name for someone living near a storage area or a merchant dealing in bundled goods.
also spelled
Baleen
Related arms
Ballenvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
