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. You do this in the municipality where you live.

This is how it works for you

Your (future) place of residence falls under:

Municipality of Goeree-Overflakkee

Here is some information from your municipality.

Registering and reporting a stillborn child

If your child was stillborn, you must register it with the registry office of the municipality where your child was born. You will receive a birth certificate (lifeless) from the municipality. You can also register your child in the Personal Records Database (BRP). You do this at the municipality where you live.

Description

If your child was born stillborn after a pregnancy of 24 weeks or more, you must report it to the municipality. You may register a pregnancy less than 24 weeks. You do this at the municipality where your child was born.

The municipality draws up a birth certificate (lifeless). This is official proof that your child has been born. The birth certificate (lifeless) is registered in the death register of the civil registry and not in the birth register.

Did your child die shortly after birth? In that case, you must register the birth in the municipality where your child was born. You will receive a birth certificate. If your child was born and died in the same municipality, you must also register the death there. Did your child die in another municipality? Then you register the death in that municipality.

Has it been a while since your child was born lifeless or has lived a short life? It doesn't matter how long ago it happened. You can still register the birth in the municipality where your child was born. Is there already a deed of your child, but it does not contain a first name? The municipality can state a name on the deed.

You can also register your child in the Personal Records Database (BRP). You register your child in the municipality where you live. Your child will then be registered under your name in the BRP. Both parents can do this. Registration does not happen automatically when you file a tax return.

You may declare a stillborn child by:

the father
the mother
a hospital employee
the funeral director
others who know about the death

You can register your stillborn child in the Personal Records Database (BRP) if you:

living or going to live in the Netherlands

The funeral director can file the declaration online. This is how you register your stillborn child:

You file the declaration with the municipality where your child was born.

You need:

your valid ID
the doctor's statement of the death of your child

Was your child born in the same municipality as where you live? In that case, you can submit the declaration and registration of your stillborn child to the municipality at the same time. You can also register in the Personal Records Database (BRP) later.

This is how you register your stillborn child in the BRP:

You go to the municipality where you live.

In any case, you take with you:
- your valid ID
- if you have one: an official certificate showing that your child was born dead

Registering a birth costs nothing. Would you like an extract from the birth certificate? You pay € 16,60 for this.

Was your child born stillborn after a pregnancy of 24 weeks or more? In that case, you may not bury or cremate your child until after the declaration has been made. You may not bury or cremate a deceased earlier than 36 hours and not later than 6 working days after death.

This term does not apply to children who are stillborn before 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Registering and reporting a stillborn child