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02/11/2011Getting married in the Netherlands

Getting married in the Netherlands Some expats come for a short stay and end up falling head over heels in love. Here are some tips on marriage in the Netherlands.

One of the most exciting days in your life is your wedding day. Even though the theme of the day is romance, it is still an official ceremony. Just like any other country in the world, the Netherlands has some rules that need to be followed when taking the big step.

Couples wanting to formalise a relationship can choose from three options: civil marriage, registered partnership, or a cohabitation agreement. A cohabitation agreement must be drafted by a notary, has legal consequences only for the parties who sign it, and covers only those issues that the parties choose.

Dutch law only acknowledges civil marriages, performed by a registrar of marriages. Once the civil ceremony is completed, the marriage may then be solemnised in a religious ceremony.

Requirements for residency
Two people can get married on the condition that one of them is a legal resident of the Netherlands. The Dutch Immigration Service will not let you get a residence permit for the sole purpose of getting married. See the IND website for more information.

Required Documentation
If you are a foreigner marrying a Dutch resident, do not forget to register your intention to marry (ondertouw) at the local municipality at least two weeks before the wedding date. It would be even better if you register a couple of months before the wedding date, since the processing of the paperwork usually takes a bit of time. The registration for marriage is valid for one year.


If you were married previously, you need to have a divorce certificate from your home country. This certificate will be regarded as proof that you are free to marry.

As a foreigner, you need to bring a birth certificate. It must be affixed with an apostille stamp.

Hot tip: Take the original copies of your documents with you if you travel for your wedding. Make sure they are in your hand luggage, not in your checked-in bags.

Surnames
Married or registered partners may use each other's surname, or in combination with their own if they choose to do so.  However, official documents have to show the person's own name as well.

Witnesses
When you get married or register a partnership, there must be no less than two witnesses and no more than four. Each one of the witnesses must supply their identification.

Same sex marriage
The Netherlands was the first country in the world to officially legalise gay marriage. So if you and your partner are the same gender, you are free to marry the Netherlands.

Teodora Todorova / Expatica

Sources:  
www.helplinelaw.com/article/netherlands/94 
www.lovetripper.com/article/wedding-regulations/netherlands.html


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