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Acknowledging parenthood of your child in the Netherlands

Are you having a child, and you and the birth mother are not married or in a civil partnership? You, as a father or the female partner of a birth mother, can become a legal parent if you officially acknowledge parenthood of that child. This can be done free of charge through your municipality.

Acknowledging parenthood of a child as the father

Are you a man who is married or formed a civil partnership with the birth mother of your child? Then you do not need to formally acknowledge parenthood of the child, as you will automatically be recorded as the legal father. This applies even if you are not the biological father of the child.

Acknowledging parenthood of a child as the female partner of the birth mother

Are you a woman who is married to, or in a civil partnership with, the birth mother? If so, you do not need to acknowledge parenthood if you used an anonymous sperm donor for the pregnancy. As the female partner of the birth mother, you will automatically be considered the child’s mother. However, you do need to prove, when registering the birth, that the sperm donor is not known to you. 

Did you use a sperm donor who is known to you? If so, the female partner of the birth mother will not automatically be considered the child’s mother. In this case, you will have to acknowledge parenthood of the child yourself. This is the case even if you are married to, or in a civil partnership with, the birth mother. 

Acknowledging parenthood of a child is subject to the following conditions: 

  • you are at least 16 years old;
  • the birth mother has given her consent if the child is under the age of 16;
  • you cannot acknowledge parenthood of a child if you are not permitted to marry the birth mother, for example because you are a close blood relative of hers;
  • there must not already be 2 parents. Has the child been adopted by the birth mother’s female partner, for example? If so, the biological father will no longer be able to acknowledge parenthood of that child.
  • Have you been placed under a conservatorship (in Dutch) on account of your physical or mental state? If so, you will first need to obtain authorisation from the regional court.

Acknowledging parenthood of a child during pregnancy

You can acknowledge parenthood of a child in any municipality in the Netherlands if they have not yet been born. This is referred to as acknowledging parenthood of an unborn child (erkenning van de ongeboren vrucht).

Will the expectant mother not be present when you acknowledge parenthood of your child? If so, she must give her written consent to the acknowledgement. 

Is your partner expecting a multiple birth? If so, the acknowledgement applies to all the children with whom your partner is pregnant at that time.

Acknowledging parenthood of a child when registering the birth

You can acknowledge parenthood when you register the birth. You register the birth in the municipality where the child was born. 

Will the expectant mother not be present when you acknowledge parenthood? If so, she must give her written consent to the official recognition.

Acknowledging parenthood of a child after registration of the birth

You can also acknowledge parenthood of a child if they are already older, or even an adult. You can do this in any municipality in the Netherlands. 

Is your child over the age of 12? If so, you will need written consent from the child and their birth mother. If the child is over the age of 16, only the child’s consent is required.

  • You must acknowledge parenthood of each child separately. This includes a second or subsequent child from a relationship. This does not happen automatically, unless you were married or in a civil partnership prior to the birth.
  • When acknowledging parenthood of the first child officially, you choose whose surname the child will have: the birth mother’s or yours. All subsequent children from the same relationship are automatically given the same surname as the first child.

This is how it works for you

Your (future) place of residence falls under:
Informatie:

Here is some information from your municipality.

Acknowledging child before birth

Voor het erkennen van een kind en het kiezen van een achternaam gaat u persoonlijk naar de gemeente. Erkenning is mogelijk in iedere gemeente in Nederland. Maak hiervoor een afspraak.

If you do not have Dutch nationality or if you live abroad, different rules may apply. You will receive more information and advice about your personal situation during your appointment.

Does the mother go to church? Then take the following with you:

  • your valid ID;
  • valid identity document of the mother.

Doesn't the mother go to church? Then take the following with you:

  • your valid ID;
  • written permission from the mother;
  • the mother's signature on the written consent;
  • valid identity document of the mother.

Do you or the mother live abroad? Please also take the following with you:

  • Foreign proof that you are not married.

You need to make an appointment. 

Choice of surname first child

When your first child is recognized, you can choose which surname it will receive: the name of the mother or the acknowledgment.

Do you want the first child to be given the name of the acknowledger? In that case, the mother must come to the municipality, written permission from the mother is not sufficient.
Don't you choose? Then the child will automatically be given the mother's surname. All subsequent children in the family will automatically have the same surname as your first child.

Official acknowledgement and choice of surname are free of charge.

The acknowledgement cannot always be processed immediately. This depends on the personal situation of the child and the person acknowledging the child. For example, acknowledgement takes longer if the child was born before 1985 or if the person having the child officially recognised does not hold Dutch citizenship.

Questions about this topic?

Contact the Municipality of Culemborg

Visiting address

Ridderstraat 250

4100AC Culemborg

Opening hours
Monday
9:00 - 16:00
Tuesday
9:00 - 19:00
Wednesday
9:00 - 16:00
Thursday
9:00 - 16:00
Friday
9:00 - 12:00
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed
Last updated on 23 December 2022