Wed

How does it work?

Together with the congregation, you will discuss, among other things:

• the wedding date
• the wedding location
• which wedding officiant you want
• Who your witnesses will be during the ceremony
• Whether you want a marriage booklet
• what the costs are

Importantly:

• you and your partner are both 18 years of age or older
• You are unmarried and not in a registered partnership with someone else

Difference between marriage and registered partnership

There are 3 differences between marriage and registered partnership:

• When you get married, you say "yes" to each other. With a registered partnership, this is not required.
• A registered partnership, if you do not have minor children, can end outside of court. With a marriage, you must always go to court to get a divorce.
• Registered partnership has no legal separation.

What to do.

You make the notification in the municipality where you are getting married.

• Make the notification at least 14 days before you get married.
• Indicate who will be your witnesses during the ceremony. These persons must be of age. You may have a minimum of 2and a maximum of 4 witnesses.
• If you and your partner have a registered partnership with each other and want to convert it into a marriage, ask for a "deed of conversion.

Marrying a non-Native

If your partner does not have the Dutch nationality, he or she must first submit a "Declaration of no sham marriage. With this your partner declares not to marry you for a residence permit. The IND checks this declaration.

You do not need this statement if you:

• both have the nationality of one of these countries  
• both have permanent residence permits
• both have indefinite asylum permits
• want to register a foreign marriage older than 10 years in the Netherlands
• want to register a terminated foreign marriage in the Netherlands.

What should I bring?

• Valid ID of you and your partner
• Copy of the valid IDs of your witnesses

Additional information

• Do you both live outside the Netherlands and does at least one of you have Dutch nationality? Then you should file the notification with the municipality of The Hague.
• A foreign marriage is not recognized if you or your partner is under 18 years of age.

Other conditions

• You may not marry your own child, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, grandchild, half-brother, half-sister.
• You should not be forced into marriage.
• Are you under guardianship? Then you need permission from the curator or district judge.

If you do not meet the conditions, the Minister of Justice and Security may still give permission. For example, if you are siblings by adoption. This is called marriage dispensation.

Marital property rules

As of Jan. 1, 2018, new marital property rules apply . The general community of property has been replaced by a limited community of property. As a result, in the event of a divorce, there will be less sharing.