Birth registration
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In the Netherlands you must register a birth with the municipality in which it was born within 3 days of the birth. The municipality will then issue a birth certificate.
Who can register a birth?
Not everyone is allowed to register a birth. Any of the following people may do so:
- the father or mother;
- a person who was present at the birth if the parents are unable to register, for example a friend or relative;
- a fellow resident of the house at which the child was born;
- the head of the hospital/clinic or their representative.
A fellow resident or the head of the hospital/clinic or their representative may only register the birth if no one was present at the birth.
Document you need when registering a birth
To register a birth you need the following documents:
- Valid passport or identity card (ID card) of the person registering the birth. Or a driving licence if the person registering the birth lives in the municipality where the birth is being registered.
- Valid passport or ID card of the mother. Or a driving licence if the mother lives in the municipality where the birth is being registered.
The following documents are not compulsory when registering a birth. However, it may be useful to take them with you:
- birth notification from the hospital or midwife showing the child’s birth names and the date and time of birth;
- where applicable a copy of the declaration of acknowledgement of parentage if the child was acknowledged before birth;
- declaration of last name choice if the child’s last name was decided when acknowledging the child before birth.
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