Notice of intent to marry

Are you planning to get married? Then you first need to notify the municipality. This is called a ‘notice of intent to marry’ (ondertrouw).

What is it?

It is a means of giving official notice of your intention to get married.

How does it work?

You need a notice of intent to marry to be able to enter into marriage.

What are the conditions?

• At least one of the partners must be a resident of The Hague. If this is not the case, check the conditions under the 'Pilot programme' at the bottom of the page to see if your situation qualifies.
  
• You need to do this at least two weeks before the intended date of the wedding or partnership registration.
  
• The wedding must take place within one year of the notice of intent to marry. Please note: If the one-year period has expired, then you need to resubmit the notice of intent to marry.

For whom is it intended?

Couples who would like to get married.

What will I need?

• Proof of identity for yourself and your partner.
• Are you getting married in The Hague? Then you need to provide the personal details and proof of identity (original or copy) of your witnesses.

If you were born in the Netherlands and have always lived here, then your details are usually registered with the Municipal Personal Records Database (GBA). You will not need to provide any official documents (like a birth certificate).

If you do not have Dutch nationality, were born abroad or were previously married in a foreign country, then it is advisable to find out well in advance what kind of documents you need and whether they meet the requirements. You should anticipate that it can sometimes take some time before you have these documents in your possession.

If the details required for your marriage are not registered with the Municipal Personal Records Database (GBA), you might be asked to provide the following:

• Have you been married before? Then you will need to provide evidence that you are no longer married. For example a divorce certificate or a death certificate.
• a recent copy of your birth certificate and that of your partner. You can read all about it under birth certificate.

Foreign documents

Documents from abroad that are not written in Dutch, French, German or English must be translated into Dutch by a sworn translator in the Netherlands.

Documents from certain countries must be legalised or provided with an apostille stamp. More information on this topic is available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Have you moved to another country or are you or your partner living abroad? Then you also need a recently issued statement confirming your domicile, nationality and marital status.

Is one of the marriage partners not a Dutch citizen? Then you will need a statement from the IND (M-46). You can get this form from the municipality. Please note: This does not apply to:

• partners who are citizens of an EU member state and who are registered with the Municipal Personal Records Database (GBA)
• partners with permanent entitlement to residence

Are you a minor or are you under guardianship? Don’t forget to first obtain permission.

How much will it cost?

The notice of intent to marry is provided free of charge.

How do I apply/What do I need to do?

Many of your marital affairs can be arranged online. To do so, visit the website of Ons Haagse Huwelijk.

• Submit all the required documents to one of the sub-municipal offices.
• The registry of births, deaths and marriages will assess whether your documents are correct. Have your documents been approved? Then you may make an appointment at the sub-municipal office for a notice of intent to marry.
• Are you getting married in The Hague? Then the registry of births, deaths and marriages will give you the witness forms. You need to have between two and four adult witnesses. If you do not have any witnesses of your own, you can request a witness.
• Take the completed witness forms and proof of identity (originals or copies) of your witnesses to your appointment for the notice of intent to marry. Alternatively, you may send the forms directly to the Department of Public Service, to the attention of the Bureau Huwelijken.

Pilot project

Normally you submit your notice of intent to marry in the municipality in which one of the partners lives. A pilot programme started in The Hague region in 2010 which gives couples the opportunity to arrange their notice of intent to marry in the municipality in which the wedding will take place.

The following municipalities are participating in the pilot: The Hague, Delft, Lansingerland, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Midden Delfland. Rijswijk, Westland and Zoetermeer.

See also

• Marriage
• Unmarried partnership
• Marriage certificate
• Certificate of unmarried partnership
• Department of Public Service
• Municipal wedding venues in The Hague