Applying to get married in the Netherlands
Are you planning to get married? If you intend to get married, you must notify the municipality of this at least 2 weeks and not more than 1 year before the wedding.
There are certain requirements for marriage that everyone must meet:
- you must be at least 18 years of age;
- you cannot marry someone who is already married or in a civil partnership;
- you cannot be related to one other, e.g. grandparent, grandchild, parent, child or sibling.
Are you getting married to a non-Dutch citizen in the Netherlands? Then different conditions apply.
If you intend to marry someone of the same sex, you can get married in the Netherlands in the presence of the civil registrar. This is called a civil marriage, and you are only legally married once you have had a civil ceremony. In addition, it is possible to have a religious ceremony in some churches, but not all churches allow it. Check first with the church where you want to have the ceremony. A church wedding can only take place after the civil ceremony.
If you are getting married outside the Netherlands and are not yet 18 years old, your marriage will only be recognised in the Netherlands once both spouses have reached 18 years of age.
This is how it works for you
Here is some information from your municipality.
Marriage and registered partnership
If you want to marry (marry) or enter into a registered partnership, you can choose in which municipality you do this. You can get married or enter into a registered partnership. The costs and rules are the same. Where further reference is made to 'marriage and marriage', you can also read 'registered partnership'.
Getting married in Culemborg
We recommend that you make an appointment with the municipality in good time. Before you can get married, you must report your intended marriage in the municipality where you want to get married.
If neither you nor your partner live in the Netherlands, you must give notice of your marriage in the municipality of Den Haag (The Hague). You can find more information on how to register a marriage for Dutch citizens living outside the Netherlands at the netherlandsworldwide.nl website.
Notify your marriage in advance
Before you can get married, you must report it to the municipality where you are going to get married (previously called 'banns'). Do you both live outside the Netherlands and is at least one of you Dutch? Then you report to the municipality of The Hague.
Make the notification no later than 14 days before you get married.
You cannot submit the notification earlier than 1 year before the wedding date.
When reporting, you state a total of 2, 3 or 4 adults as witnesses.
Inquire in advance with the municipality where you are going to get married and which documents you still need to show. Often the municipality where you make the report already has these documents. The employee will tell you which of the documents below are required.
- a copy of your birth certificate and that of your partner
- valid proof of identity for you and your partner
- copy of the valid identity documents of your witnesses
- certificate of being unmarried, if you have lived abroad
Do you want to fix a wedding date in Culemborg? Send an e-mail to burgerzaken@culemborg.nl. Include in the email:
- desired marriage partnership date
- the names of you and your partner
- date of birth of you and your partner
- your place of residence and telephone number(s)
In Culemborg we know 3 types of weddings:
Basic wedding: in the municipal office (Ridderstraat 250) at the counter
A free wedding that is performed at the city counter of the city office. At the time of recording the wedding date, at least one of the two suitors lives in Culemborg. There are (maximum) 4 legal witnesses. This is possible on Tuesday mornings at 9.15 am or 9.30 am. This wedding ceremony lasts a maximum of 10 minutes and has no speech.
Medium wedding: in the municipal office (Ridderstraat 250) in a separate room
A paid wedding that is performed in a separate room of the municipal office. At the time of recording the wedding date, at least one of the two suitors lives in Culemborg. There is a maximum of 8 people, including bridal couple, witnesses and guests. This is possible on a Tuesday afternoon at 3.30 pm. This wedding ceremony lasts a maximum of 15 minutes. Costs €152.
Premium wedding: in the town hall on the Markt or at your own location
A paid wedding that is celebrated in the town hall or at a location of your choice with a personal speech by an elected Special Officer of the Civil Registry (Babs) or an 'own Babs'. This wedding can take place at times that the bridal couple can choose themselves.
Marriage Officers
The municipality of Culemborg has 3 Extraordinary Civil Servants (Babs) or marriage officers. The municipality would like to know your first and second choice to ensure that one of them will conclude your marriage.
Bring your own wedding officiant
Would you rather choose a wedding officiant from another municipality? Or for a friend or family member as a wedding officiant? Then you can have him or her appointed as a wedding official for 1 day. Download the BABS form for a day here. This marriage official must apply for a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) in his place of residence. Download the VOG form for BABS here.
The Basic wedding ceremony on Tuesday mornings at 9.15 and 9.30 am is free.
The Medium performance on Tuesday afternoon at 3.30 pm costs € 157.
The costs for a Premium consummation:
Monday to Friday 09:00 to 16:00: € 591.00
Saturday and outside office hours: € 935.00
free location Mon to Fri 09:00 to 16:00: € 805.00
free location Saturday and outside office hours: € 1,149.00
official witnesses, per employee: € 80.00
In addition to the above rates, the costs for any necessary documents are:
marriage booklet for free marriage: € 14.30
BABS sworn: € 181.00
BABS must be sworn in: € 265.00
Apply for a VOG for this: € 41.35
Please note: costs will be charged in the event of cancellation.
Within 3 months to 14 days before the wedding date €51.70 and €103 for cancellations within 14 days. This applies to all marriages.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Culemborg