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
Here is some information from your municipality.
declaration of stillborn child
A stillbirth can be registered by:
- the father or female partner of the mother;
- the mother;
- an employee of the hospital;
- the funeral home;
- others who know about the death.
Registration in the BRP
You can register your stillborn child in the Basisregistratie Personen – BRP (Personal Records Database) if you live or will be living in the Netherlands.
The death must be registered before the funeral or cremation takes place.
You must register a stillborn child in the municipality where the birth took place. You need a doctor's statement for the declaration.
Please remember to bring the following to your appointment:
- A valid ID;
- possibly your marriage certificate so that your child can be added to it;
- possibly a certificate of stillborn child if the child was born in another municipality (not compulsory);
- possibly a statement from a doctor, hospital or midwife;
- possibly an obituary or information about the funeral or cremation.
You don't have all the information?
The municipality can probably help you anyway. Go to Rijksoverheid.nl and check what you need to do for registration in the BRP. You can also contact us by telephone.
If your child was stillborn, make an appointment with the municipality where your child was born to register the birth. It is possible to erkennen (acknowledge parenthood) of your stillborn child upon registration. You can also have your child recorded in your trouwboekje (Livret de Famille or Family Book).
It is free to have a certificate drawn up.
You pay a fee for an afschrift (official copy) of the certificate. For more information, contact the municipality.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Oldenzaal