Having a baby in the Netherlands when you are not married
If you are not married or in a registered partnership, Dutch law does not automatically make the mother’s partner the baby’s legal parent, and a baby whose parents make no surname choice takes the mother’s name. Two appointments before the birth settle both, and a third step matters if neither of you is Dutch. Checked 20 September 2026.
Acknowledge the baby before the birth (erkenning)
If you are not married and not in a registered partnership, the mother's partner is not automatically the baby's legal parent. Acknowledgement fixes that, and you can do it before the birth at any Dutch municipality, not only your own. Checked against rijksoverheid.nl on 20 September 2026.
Applies to people who are not married or in a registered partnership and have a partner going through it with them. Paperbump schedules this usually between week 20 and week 34 of the pregnancy. What this step involves · rijksoverheid.nl
Choose the baby's surname (naamskeuze)
You can record the surname before the birth at the municipality, or at the birth registration. Both parents go together. Checked against rijksoverheid.nl on 20 September 2026.
Paperbump schedules this usually between week 20 and week 36 of the pregnancy. What this step involves · rijksoverheid.nl
Sort out the baby's nationality and papers with your own country
Being born in the Netherlands does not by itself make your baby Dutch. In general a child is Dutch at birth only if at least one parent is Dutch, so if you are both foreign nationals the baby usually is not. Checked against rijksoverheid.nl on 20 September 2026.
Applies to people who moved to the Netherlands from another country. Paperbump schedules this within 4 months of the birth. What this step involves · rijksoverheid.nl
Get these dated from your own due date — free, nothing leaves your device