THE HAGUE – October 20, 2026 | The Dutch Daily
Getting married in the Netherlands is mostly an administrative process, and the first rule is about timing: you must notify your municipality of your intended marriage at least two weeks before the date, and some municipalities ask for far more notice. This guide follows the Rijksoverheid, NederlandWereldwijd and the municipalities of Utrecht and The Hague, and sets out who can marry, the seven steps, the documents foreigners often need, and what changes if one of you lives abroad. Information was checked on 20 October 2026; fees and deadlines differ per municipality and can change.
Getting married in the Netherlands: quick answer
- Who can marry: two people aged 18 or older, neither married nor in a registered partnership with someone else. At least one of you must be Dutch or live in the Netherlands.
- Notice: report your intention to the municipality at least 2 weeks before the date (Rijksoverheid). Utrecht: at least 14 days and at most 1 year ahead. The Hague: at the earliest 12 weeks and at the latest 1 year ahead.
- Witnesses: 2 to 4, each 18 or older with a valid ID. You arrange them yourselves.
- Documents: decided by the municipality where you marry; foreign documents may need translation or legalisation.
- Religious ceremony: only after the civil marriage.
Contents
1. Who can marry when getting married in the Netherlands
The Rijksoverheid lists these conditions for getting married in the Netherlands:
- You and your partner are 18 or older.
- Neither of you is married to, or in a registered partnership with, someone else.
- If one of you is under curatele (guardianship), you need consent from the curator or the kantonrechter.
- Parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, and siblings may not marry. Cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles may marry only after both make a sworn declaration of free will to the civil registrar. In some cases the Minister of Justice and Security can grant a dispensation (huwelijksdispensatie).
NederlandWereldwijd adds that at least one of you must be Dutch or live in the Netherlands, and that same-sex marriage is allowed. The municipality of The Hague states it plainly: if neither partner is registered in a Dutch municipality and neither has Dutch nationality, you cannot marry in the Netherlands. If you have just moved, see our guides to BRP registration and the first 30 days checklist.
2. Getting married in the Netherlands: the 7 steps
- Check the conditions. Section 1 above; if you do not meet one, ask the municipality about a dispensation.
- Choose the municipality. You report your intention to, and marry in, the same municipality. The municipality where you plan to marry decides which documents you need.
- Report your intended marriage. The Rijksoverheid says this must be at least 2 weeks before the date, and that most municipalities allow it online. Utrecht asks for at least 14 days and at most 1 year ahead; both partners log in with DigiD and each completes a form. The Hague accepts notification at the earliest 12 weeks and at the latest 1 year before the ceremony, and for the online notification both partners must be registered in the BRP. Reporting is free in both cities.
- Name your witnesses. You need at least 2 and at most 4, each 18 or older with a valid ID. Utrecht says you arrange the witnesses yourselves.
- Gather your documents. See section 3. If the notification is incomplete the municipality may reject it or contact you: in Utrecht it responds within 10 working days; The Hague says missing documents or an incomplete form lead to rejection.
- Decide on property arrangements. Marriage creates a community of property by default; you can deviate with prenuptial terms (huwelijkse voorwaarden) drawn up by a notary before the wedding. See section 6.
- Hold the ceremony. The civil ceremony comes first. A religious ceremony (church, mosque and so on) may take place only after the civil marriage is completed.
3. Documents for foreigners getting married in the Netherlands
Documents from abroad are not automatically valid in the Netherlands; they may need to be translated and/or legalised, according to NederlandWereldwijd. The Hague mentions legalisation or an apostille. Which documents you need depends on your situation:
- Valid ID for both partners and each witness. In The Hague, passports and Dutch ID cards are preferred, EEA passports or ID cards and Dutch alien documents are also accepted, and a driving licence works only if the holder is Dutch. Utrecht does not accept driving licences at the counter.
- Birth details. The civil registrar checks your birth details in the BRP; if they are not based on a Dutch birth certificate you may be asked to bring your birth certificate, and without one you can make a sworn declaration about your birth details.
- Earlier marriage: a divorce certificate, death certificate or deed of dissolution of a registered partnership, which must be correctly registered in the BRP (The Hague).
- Certificate of no marriage (ongehuwdverklaring): if you live or have lived abroad, the municipality may ask for it. You request it at your last place of residence abroad, and it may need legalisation.
- Declaration of no sham marriage (verklaring geen schijnhuwelijk): a non-Dutch person may need it; you request it from the municipality where you marry. You do not need it if you both have the nationality of an EU country, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland, or both hold an indefinite residence permit, or both hold an indefinite asylum permit. In Utrecht, if a partner has a non-EU/EEA nationality and a temporary residence permit, both partners must sign this declaration.
- Declaration of residence rights (verklaring omtrent het verblijfsrecht): if you or your partner live in the Netherlands you may need it; you apply to the IND. If you both live abroad you do not need it.
Because requirements differ, call or check the municipality before you book: Utrecht, for example, advises calling 14 030.
4. Costs of getting married in the Netherlands, postponing and cancelling
Reporting your intention is free in Utrecht and The Hague. Other costs depend on the municipality and the type of ceremony:
- Wedding booklet (huwelijksboekje): €40.20 in Utrecht. Other municipalities set their own fees, so check yours.
- Ceremony fees: paid when you arrange the ceremony; The Hague says they vary by location and does not list amounts. It offers regular, simple and free ceremony types.
- Postponing in The Hague: the first time is free; the second time costs €180.95.
- Cancelling in The Hague: free up to 6 weeks before the ceremony; after that fees are charged, and also if you do not show up.
Amounts as published by Utrecht and The Hague on 20 October 2026; they change and differ per municipality.
5. If one of you lives abroad: getting married in the Netherlands from outside
- Dutch nationals living abroad must first report to the municipality of The Hague before marrying in any Dutch municipality; NederlandWereldwijd says to do this at least 8 weeks before the wedding.
- If one partner lives abroad and you want to marry in The Hague, a separate notification procedure applies.
- If one of you cannot appear in person, for example because of serious illness, the Minister of Justice and Security can grant permission for a marriage by proxy (bij volmacht).
- If your partner lives abroad after you marry, they may need a residence permit, which is applied for through the IND.
6. Getting married in the Netherlands: property, partnership and recognition abroad
Marriage or a registered partnership creates a community of property by default (Utrecht calls it a limited community of property). If you want something different, you need a notary: NederlandWereldwijd describes prenuptial terms (huwelijkse voorwaarden) that a notary drafts before the wedding.
The Rijksoverheid explains one difference between the two forms: a registered partnership can be converted into a marriage, but a marriage cannot be converted into a registered partnership. It also warns that an opposite-sex marriage is recognised almost everywhere, while same-sex marriages, opposite-sex partnerships and same-sex partnerships are not recognised in every country. If you might move abroad, ask the Dutch embassy or consulate about possible problems, for example with inheritance law.
Our tips (not from the sources):
- Start by phoning or e-mailing your municipality: it decides which documents you need, and foreign documents can take time to obtain.
- If you are new to the country, make sure your own BRP registration is correct first; The Hague requires both partners to be registered for the online route.
- Book early if you want a particular date: the Hague’s earliest booking window is 12 weeks ahead.
- See also our DigiD guide, since Utrecht’s online notification uses DigiD.
7. FAQ
How early must I notify the municipality when getting married in the Netherlands?
At least 2 weeks before the date, according to the Rijksoverheid. Utrecht asks for 14 days to 1 year ahead; The Hague accepts notification from 12 weeks to 1 year before the ceremony.
Do we need witnesses?
Yes: 2 to 4, each 18 or older with a valid ID.
Is getting married in the Netherlands possible for two foreigners?
Yes, if at least one of you lives in the Netherlands (or is Dutch). If neither of you is registered in a Dutch municipality and neither is Dutch, you cannot marry there.
Can we have a religious ceremony first?
No. A religious ceremony may take place only after the civil marriage.
Is notifying the municipality free?
In Utrecht and The Hague, yes. Other fees depend on the municipality.
Do foreign documents need legalisation?
They may. They are not automatically valid, and may need translation and/or legalisation; check with the municipality.
🇳🇱 Dutch Corner
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Het huwelijk | Marriage |
| Het geregistreerd partnerschap | Registered partnership |
| De melding voorgenomen huwelijk | Notification of intended marriage |
| De getuige | Witness |
| De ambtenaar van de burgerlijke stand | Civil registrar |
| De gemeente | Municipality |
| De huwelijkse voorwaarden | Prenuptial agreement |
| Het huwelijksboekje | Wedding booklet |
| De ongehuwdverklaring | Certificate of no marriage |
Sources
- Rijksoverheid: Waar moet ik aan denken als ik wil trouwen of een geregistreerd partnerschap wil sluiten? (conditions, 2 weeks, witnesses, religious ceremony, property, partnership, recognition abroad)
- NederlandWereldwijd: Kan ik trouwen in Nederland als ik buiten Nederland woon? (residence rule, 8 weeks via The Hague, proxy, property regime)
- NederlandWereldwijd: Welke documenten heb ik nodig om te trouwen in Nederland? (legalisation, ongehuwdverklaring, no-sham-marriage declaration, residence rights)
- Gemeente Utrecht: Voorgenomen huwelijk of geregistreerd partnerschap melden (14 days to 1 year, DigiD, €40.20 booklet, 10 working days)
- Gemeente Den Haag: Huwelijk of geregistreerd partnerschap melden (12 weeks to 1 year, documents, €180.95, cancelling)
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