Births, deaths and marriages

Updated 5 December 2023 at 14:38

Find out what’s required to get married in Amsterdam, register the birth of a child, or prepare a death certificate.

Getting married in the Amsterdam Area

If you’re planning to get married or enter into a registered partnership in the Netherlands, you’re required to notify your local municipality of your plans – typically at least 6 weeks before the ceremony. Make an appointment to give notice of your intention to marry at your City Office. Residents of Amsterdam can read more about the procedure on the City of Amsterdam website.

Requirements:

You cannot be currently married or in a registered partnership
You must be 18 or older
You must give notice to your municipality – check with them what their minimum notification period is, especially when it involves non-Dutch nationals
At least one partner must already legally live and be registered in the Netherlands
Same-sex marriages are recognised. The Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage in 2001.

Registering a marriage from abroad

If you get married overseas, you’re required to register your marriage with the Civil Registry in your municipality once your foreign marriage certificate is legalised. Refer to our information on authenticating foreign documents.

Amsterdam wedding venues

See I amsterdam’s selection of the top-rated wedding venues in the Amsterdam Area.

Registering a birth

Babies born in the Netherlands must be registered at the municipality in which the birth took place within 3 days (extended during weekends and public holidays). You will need to have decided on the baby’s first and surnames to register them. Birth registration typically requires an appointment in person and is done by one or both of the parents. Check with the municipality if someone else is allowed to complete the registration on your behalf, or if registration cannot take place within the 3 day period.

In Amsterdam, babies born at either the Amsterdam UMC or the BovenIJ hospital can also be registered there.

Birth certificates

A birth certificate is signed during the registration procedure, which is included in the official register of births. You can request an extract or copy of the certificate (also available in an international format). The child will also be registered at the same address as the parents if living in the Netherlands.

Documents to bring:

Proof of identity (passport, driving licence, identity card or residence permit)
Marriage certificate, if applicable
Proof of the child being registered at a different municipality or with a civil-law notary if this is the case
Details of the date and time of birth

If you’re a resident of Amsterdam, find out about registering a birth there. Read more about birth, pregnancy and information for families in the Amsterdam Area.

Registering a death

When a person in the Netherlands dies, the Civil Registry in their municipality needs to be notified of the death within 6 days. This also applies if a resident of the Netherlands dies while overseas. On receiving the notice, the municipality will issue a death certificate. In most cases, the death is registered by the undertaker, but it can also be arranged by a family member or someone with personal knowledge of the death.

Typically, a burial or cremation takes place within 6 working days of the death. Each option requires permission from the municipality, so it is recommended to register the death as soon as possible. For information about repatriation of a deceased, you need to contact the relevant embassy or consulate.

Read more about registering a death in Amsterdam.