Wed

You call the municipality to have your wedding date and time set. You will receive written confirmation of this and the necessary Notification Forms. To turn in the notification forms, you must make a Make an appointment appointment.

You make the notification in the municipality where you are getting married

• Make the notification at least 14 days before you get married.
• Indicate who will be your witnesses during the ceremony. These persons must be of age. You may have a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 witnesses.
• If you and your partner are in a registered partnership with each other and want to convert it to a marriage, ask for a "deed of conversion.

Together with the congregation, you will discuss, among other things

• the wedding date and location;
• Which wedding officiant you want;
• Who your witnesses will be during the ceremony;
• Whether you want a wedding book;
• what the costs are.

 Importantly

• you and your partner are both 18 years of age or older;
• You are both unmarried and not in a registered partnership with someone else.

 Dutch nationals living abroad

Do you both live outside the Netherlands and does at least one of you have Dutch nationality? If so, you should file the notification with the municipality of The Hague. In this case, we advise you to make the notification at least 6 months before the date of the ceremony. You may need to submit additional documents. Then make an appointment with us to go through a number of matters.

• Valid ID of you and your partner
• Copy of the valid IDs of your witnesses

Sometimes additional documents needed with notification

Please contact the municipality first if the bride or groom was born abroad, lives or has lived outside the Netherlands. In many cases, additional documents will need to be submitted. If this applies to you, please contact us at least six months before the date of the wedding via the Customer Contact Center at 0543 49 33 33. You can also send an email to burgerlijkestand@aalten.nl.

Cost of marriage

Various rates

We ask that you pay all fees when you are with us for the submission of the notice of intended marriage (preferably by debit card).

In the municipality of Aalten, you can choose from three types of wedding ceremonies.

Wedding ceremony with ceremony

The ceremony takes place in the wedding hall of the town hall in Aalten (maximum 60 people). You can also choose a location of your choice. A wedding ceremony can take place from Monday to Saturday. An increased rate is charged for ceremonies on Saturdays.

Marriage ceremony without ceremony

A wedding ceremony without a ceremony can be held Monday through Thursday between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 

• You may come with a party of up to 8 people (including witnesses) 
• There will be no speech
• You cannot choose a wedding officiant 
• The ceremony will take place in a consultation room at the municipal office, Hofstraat , Aalten.

Free wedding ceremony

Monday mornings at 9 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. you can have your wedding ceremony free of charge. 

• Only your witnesses may be present
• There will be no speech
• You cannot choose a wedding officiant
• The ceremony will take place in a consultation room at the municipal office, Hofstraat , Aalten.

Location of your choice

The ceremony normally takes place in the wedding hall at the town hall. Would you prefer an external location? There is a wide choice of wedding locations in the municipality of Aalten. All these locations are designated as wedding locations. 

Would you like to have the ceremony at a place that is not designated as an official wedding location in our municipality? Then contact Civil Affairs, tel. (0543) 49 33 33.

Keep in mind that you make your own arrangements with the outside wedding venue regarding the date and time of your wedding ceremony. Often wedding venues charge rent for the use of the venue.

Marriage officials of the municipality of Aalten

Learn more about wedding officiants here.

Bringing your own extraordinary registrar (BABS)

It is possible to have your own civil registrar perform the marriage ceremony. This can be someone who has already been appointed as an ABS/BABS in another municipality, but also someone who has not yet been sworn in and appointed. This registrar will then be appointed for one day. The request for this must be submitted to the municipality of Aalten no later than 6 months before the wedding date. The form 'request for appointment as BABS for one day' can be requested from the municipality.
There are additional costs associated with bringing in a BABS.

Difference between marriage and registered partnership

• When you get married, you say "yes" to each other. With a registered partnership, this is not required.
• A registered partnership, if you do not have minor children, can end outside of court. With a marriage, you must always go to court to get a divorce.
• Registered partnership has no legal separation; marriage does.
• A marriage between a man and a woman is recognized all over the world. But a marriage between two men or two women is not. Also, not all countries recognize a registered partnership. Some countries know this only for two men or for two women. Does the country where you are vacationing, living or doing business with not recognize registered partnership? Then they will see you as unmarried partners. You may not have the rights and obligations that married partners in that country have.

Other Requirements

• You may not marry your own child, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, grandchild, half-brother, half-sister.
• You should not be forced into marriage.
• Are you under guardianship? If so, you need permission from the curator or district judge.

If you do not meet the Requirements, the Minister of Justice and Security may still give permission. For example, if you are siblings by adoption. This is called marriage dispensation.

Marriage Requirements or community of property

As of January 1, 2018, new marital property rules apply. The general community of property has been replaced by a limited community of property. More information can be found at Rijksoverheid or inquire at a notary public. Even if you are unsure about your choice, it is wise to consult a notary. You are free to choose a notary (see www.notaris.nl).

Co-motherhood (marriage or partnership registration between 2 women)

Co-motherhood arises automatically if the child is born during the marriage or registered partnership. It is important here that it is an unknown donor. You can prove this with a declaration of parenthood from the Donor Data Foundation.

Is a child's donor known? For example, if the donor is a friend, acquaintance or family member. Then the co-mother does not automatically receive legal parenthood over a child. In that case, you can acknowledge the child. Recognition can be arranged before the child is born. In that case, you are a legal parent from the birth of the child.

Maternity by recognition is not always recognized abroad. There are countries where legal parenthood of co-mothers by recognition is not regulated by law. This is relevant if you are abroad for vacation or if you and/or your child will later live abroad. Maternity by adoption is generally better accepted abroad. For more information on adoption, please refer to a legal aid provider.

More information about acknowledging a child can be found on the website of the Rijksoverheid.