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.
- Was the child legally acknowledged before 1 January 2023? Then the parents do have to apply to the district court for joint custody.
- When acknowledging a child if not married or in a civil partnership with the birth mother after 1 January 2023 then you will automatically be granted joint custody (in Dutch). There are exceptions (in Dutch) such as when acknowledging the child you both declare that the birth mother is granted sole custody.
This is how it works for you
Here is some information from your municipality.
Acknowledging parenthood of your child and adoption
By acknowledging parenthood of a child, you assume legal parenthood, either before or after the child's birth. To do so, make an appointment with the municipality first.
Acknowledging a child
If you assume legal parenthood for a child, this means concretely:
- you are obliged to take care of the child.
- the child receives mutual inheritance rights.
- the child can take your surname.
You can already acknowledge the child during pregnancy (an 'acknowledgement of unborn foetus'). Acknowledgement is also possible during or after the declaration of birth if there are not yet 2 parents on the child's birth certificate. You do not have to be the biological parent for this.
Conditions
Do you want to acknowledge a child before it is born? This is possible if you meet the following conditions:
- The biological mother is not married or registered partner with someone else.
- You both have the Dutch nationality.
- You have both always lived in the Netherlands.
- You were both born in the Netherlands.
If all these apply, you can make an appointment.
Do you not meet all the conditions?
In that case, you can only make an appointment by telephone. We will first check whether the child can be acknowledged. You can then call +31 73 615 51 55.
Requirements for the application
Bring the following with you when you acknowledge your child:
- Valid proof of identity of the person who wants to recognise the child.
- Valid proof of identity of the biological mother.
- If the child is 12 years old or older: then also a valid proof of identity of the child.
- Is only the father or duo mother coming to the municipality? Then he/she needs written permission from the biological mother (and possibly the child under 16) to be able to recognise the child. You will need a consent form for this. To do so, contact the municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch via telephone number +31 73 615 51 55.
- If the child is 16 years of age or older, he/she must come in person.
Costs
- Acknowledgement and choice of name are free of charge.
- You can apply for a certificate of recognition in the municipality where the recognition took place.
You do pay a fee for applying for a deed. For more information, contact the municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch via telephone number +31 73 615 51 55 or send an e-mail using the digital contact form.
How long does it take
The municipality cannot always process recognition immediately. It depends on the personal situation of the child and the recogniser. For example, recognition takes longer if the child was born before 1985 or if the person recognising the child does not have Dutch nationality.
Child's surname
When acknowledging the child, the parents can also choose the surname of the person who acknowledges the child. You can only do this for the first child within your relationship and no later than at the birth registration. The biological mother must come to the town hall in person. Subsequent children will be given the same surname as your first child.
Parental authority
Did you recognise your child (as unborn child) before 1 January 2023 and are unmarried and do not have a registered partnership? Then only the mother (from whom the child was born) has automatic parental authority over the child (if born). She must then be of age and not under guardianship.
Acknowledgement does not automatically give you parental authority over a child. You can apply for this online at the court. If you do not do this then only the mother has parental authority.
From 1 January 2023
From 1 January 2023, custody will be arranged immediately upon recognition. Are you unmarried and not in a registered partnership? Then you say what you want with the custody of the (unborn) child at the time of recognition. You can choose that the mother and the person recognising the child automatically both have custody. Do you want only the mother to have custody? If so, the acknowledgement will state that only the mother has custody of the child. Note! You must both be present at the acknowledgement if you choose that the mother has sole custody.
Adoption
Those who adopt a child take on the upbringing and daily care of a child born to other parents. You do not submit a request for adoption to the municipality. What steps you do need to take can be read on the Adoption website.
Further information
For more information, contact the municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch by phone or WhatsApp +31 73 615 51 55 or send an e-mail via the digital contact form.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch
Visiting address
Wolvenhoek 1
5211HH 's-Hertogenbosch
| Monday | 08.30 - 17.00 |
| Tuesday | 08.30 - 17.00 |
| Wednesday | 08.30 - 17.00 |
| Thursday | 08.30 - 20.00 |
| Friday | 08.30 - 17.00 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |