Registering a stillborn baby in the Netherlands
A stillbirth is registered with the municipality in which the child was born. The municipality then issues a birth certificate (geboorteakte) for a stillbirth. It does not matter how long the pregnancy lasted.
A birth certificate for a stillbirth is an official document, proving that your baby was born.
The birth certificate for a stillbirth is recorded in the Registers van de burgerlijke stand (Register of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships)
Choosing a surname for a stillborn baby
You may choose your child’s surname, which can be either the father’s or the mother’s surname. This choice does not affect the names of any subsequent children, meaning that you can choose a different surname in the future.
You can also register your stillborn baby in the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen – BRP) if you wish. This is a different procedure from registering the birth of your baby as stillborn.
The birth of a stillborn baby is registered with the municipality where your baby was born. For any questions, please contact the municipality.
This is how it works for you
Here is some information from your municipality.
Municipality of Arnhem: Registering a stillborn baby
If your child was stillborn, you must make an appointment with the municipality where your child was born to have this registered. It is possible to acknowledge a stillborn child upon registration. You can also have your child added to your marriage booklet.
Registering a stillborn child may be done by:
- the father or co-mother;
- the mother;
- a hospital staff member;
- the funeral director;
- others who know of the death.
The registration of death must be made before the burial or cremation takes place.
- A death certificate. You will receive this from the doctor.
- Your proof of ID (a passport, ID card or driving licence).
- Your marriage booklet, if applicable.
If your child was born in Arnhem before the registration, you can make an appointment with the municipality of Arnhem. Under “For which product would you like to make an appointment?”, select “Geboorte aangifte levenloos kind”.
It is free to have a certificate drawn up. An afschrift (official copy) of the certificate costs: € XX.
[extra optie]
You pay a fee for an afschrift (official copy) of the certificate. For more information, contact the municipality [contactgegevens].