Changing the registration of gender on official documents

The Government of the Netherlands uses 2 genders: ‘man’ (male) and ‘vrouw’ (female). For people born in the Netherlands, changing the registration of your gender from ‘man’ to ‘vrouw’, and vice versa, can be done at the municipality where you were born.

It is not possible to choose gender-neutral registration at the municipality. Do you want to change the registration of your gender to gender-neutral? If so, send a request to the district court.

There are rules for changing the registration of your gender on official documents.

Medical certificate needed to change the registration of your gender

To change the registration of your gender, you will need a certificate from an expert. This may be a doctor, psychologist or psychotherapist. The certificate is a statement containing the designation ‘deskundige transgenders’ (transgender expert) (in Dutch). You do not need to have undergone an operation, hormone treatment or sterilisation.

Change to registration of gender designation for children under 16 years of age

It is not currently possible for children under 16 years of age to have the registration of their gender changed.

Gender registration change and citizenship

To change the registration of your gender in the Netherlands, you must:

• hold Dutch citizenship; or
• have resided in the Netherlands for at least 1 year, if you do not hold Dutch citizenship. 

Do you want to have the registration of your gender changed by the municipality in the Netherlands where you were born? If so, you can also specify your new forename(s). The municipality where you were born will then put those names on your birth certificate.

You can have the registration of your gender changed in the municipality where you were born. That municipality will amend your birth certificate. The municipality where you were born will notify the municipality where you live of the change. The municipality where you live will then amend your data in the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen – BRP).

Were you born outside the Netherlands? If so, you can submit a request to the municipality of Den Haag (The Hague).

Applying for a new passport, identity card or driving licence after changing the registration of your gender

Is your new gender registration entered in the BRP? If so, you can apply for a new passport, identity card or driving licence. You can do this with the municipality where you live. Old documents are no longer valid, and you must return them.