Marriage
Who can marry in the Netherlands?
You can marry in the Netherlands when one of both partners:
- has Dutch nationality;
- has legal residence in the Netherlands.
A man and a woman are getting married in a town hall.
Other conditions for marrying in the Netherlands
- Both partners have to be unmarried or divorced (when a marriageMarriageA ceremony and legal contract which creates a legal relationship between 2 partners.…Read more has legally ended).
- The partners cannot be close relatives (for example: brothers and sisters cannot marry).
- Both partners must be 18 or older.
When one of the partners does not reside in the Netherlands, or does not have a valid residence permit, there are additional requirements.
Same-sexSexAll acts that can sexually arouse you. Sex is more than sexual intercourse.…Read more marriage
Same-sexSexAll acts that can sexually arouse you. Sex is more than sexual intercourse.…Read more marriage has been legal in the Netherlands since 2001.
If one of the partners has the nationality of a country that recognises same-sex marriage, the lawLawRules which decide what you may and may not do. Every country has…Read more of that country applies. In this case, the law of the country of the other person does not apply. For example: a man from Uganda, where same-sex marriage is forbidden by lawForbidden by lawIf an action is forbidden by law, the law says that you must…Read more, can marry a Dutch man or a man from another country that recognises same-sex marriage. Ugandan law does not apply in this case.
If you want more information about same-sex marriage, contact a lawyer. You can phone Switchboard to find a lawyer who has experience in these matters.
2 men getting married in a town hall
Free choiceChoiceDecide which is the best from several options. For example, people have the…Read more
In the Netherlands, everyone is free to decide who they want to marry. Forced marriage is forbidden by law.
A person who forces somebody else to marry against their will can be punished with a prison sentence of up to 2 years, even if the coercionCoercionForcing someone to do or undergo something, for example by violence or threats…Read more took place abroad. Even if the marriage does not actually take place, the coercion can still be punished. The coercion can be physical or psychological (threats or emotional pressure). The limitation period for forced marriage is 6 years, and starts when the victimVictimSomeone who suffers from something which is not their fault.Read more is 18 years. The means a victim can report it to the police up to the age of 24 years.
An arranged marriage is when parents or other family members choose a partnerPartnerPerson you are in a relationship with.Read more for their child. When both spouses-to-be fully agree to the marriage, and are at least 18 years of age, this is a legal marriage.
Registered partnershipRegistered partnershipA form of living together which has been laid down by law. A…Read more
Another legal form in which partners can be together is a registered partnership (wettelijk samenwonen). A registered partnership is almost the same as a marriage, and like marriage is also possible for same-sex couples. There are two differences between marriage and registered partnership: only when entering into marriage it is compulsory to take marriage vows (“I will”/ “I do”), and a registered partnership can be ended out of court when there are no underage children.
Cohabitation contract
In addition to marriage and registered partnership, you can also enter into a cohabitation contract if you live together. You can have the cohabitation contract drawn up by a notary (notaris).You can also choose not to formally lay down your relationshipRelationshipWhen 2 people are in a relationship, they have a bond with each…Read more in a contract. A notarial cohabitation contract is compulsory if, for example, you want to receive a surviving partner’s pension. The costs of a cohabitation contract differ between notaries.