Getting Married in the Netherlands as an Expat: Your Complete Guide

By Valérie from the Wedding Consultant

You fell in love, you said yes, and now you are staring at a very Dutch question: where do we even begin? Whether you live in Amsterdam, just moved to Utrecht, or dream of marrying here while your family flies in from three continents, getting married in the Netherlands as an expat comes with a few surprises. The good news is that the process is clear and very doable once you know the order of things.

After 15 years in the Dutch wedding industry, and having lived abroad myself (New York, Dubai and Oman), I know exactly where international couples get stuck. Here is the guide I wish every couple had before they started.

1. Can you legally marry in the Netherlands?

In general, yes, and you do not need to be Dutch. To marry here you must both be at least 18, free to marry (not already married or in a registered partnership), able to consent, and not closely related.

Residence matters, too. The rules depend on your nationalities and where you live. As a rule of thumb, if you and your partner both live outside the Netherlands and neither of you is Dutch, you cannot marry here. If at least one of you lives in the Netherlands, you generally can. Requirements can differ per situation, so check the official guidance on government.nl or ask your municipality (gemeente) before you fall in love with a venue.

2. Only the civil ceremony is legally binding

This is the first thing that surprises many international couples. In the Netherlands, a church service, a symbolic ceremony or a ceremony led by a friend does not make you legally married. The civil ceremony at the town hall (or at an approved location) is the legal part. You can add a religious or symbolic ceremony before or after, with your own words, rituals and traditions.

Many of my couples do exactly that: a short, beautiful civil ceremony for the legal side, and a personal ceremony elsewhere that feels completely like them.

3. The paperwork (start early!)

The exact list depends on your municipality and your nationality, so always confirm with the gemeente where you plan to marry. Commonly requested documents include:

• A valid passport or ID for both partners
• A birth certificate, often recent and legalised or carrying an apostille
• A declaration or certificate of unmarried status from your home country
• Divorce papers or a death certificate if you were married before
• A personal declaration for non-Dutch nationals
• Proof of address in the Netherlands, if you live here

Two things cause most of the delays. First, foreign documents usually need an apostille or legalisation before the Netherlands accepts them. Second, some municipalities want documents translated by a sworn translator, while others accept English. Make sure the spelling of your names and dates matches across every document and passport.

My advice: begin collecting documents at least four to six months before your wedding date, and longer if your home country is slow with official paperwork.

4. Choosing your civil ceremony

Dutch municipalities offer different types of civil ceremony, ranging from a simple, budget-friendly ceremony to a fully personalised one with your own location, music and speeches. A few practical things to know:

• Weekday ceremonies, usually Monday to Thursday, are typically the most affordable. Many Dutch weddings take place on a weekday.
• Prices, available dates and ceremony options differ per municipality, so ask for the current rates.
• Many municipalities let you marry at an approved external location, such as a castle, hotel or museum, if it is on their list of wedding venues.
• Many municipalities also allow you to appoint your own officiant for the day, so the ceremony can be personal and in English.
• You will need witnesses. Typically this is between two and four adults, so ask your municipality what applies.

Popular locations book up a year ahead, particularly from May to September. If you have a favourite venue, secure it early, even before the paperwork is complete.

5. What a Dutch wedding day looks, and how to make it yours

A classic Dutch wedding is built in layers: the civil ceremony, a reception, a dinner and then a party, with some guests invited to the whole day and others only to the evening. Weddings often happen on a weekday, speeches and games are popular, and the mood is warm, informal and a little less choreographed than many international couples expect.

I grew up in New York, so I know exactly how it feels to arrive at a wedding that runs on someone else’s rules. That is why I love to bend the Dutch format a little. It is flexible, and that is your advantage: you can keep what is charming about a Dutch wedding and weave in the traditions that make the day unmistakably yours. Your guests feel welcome from the first minute, because they recognise something of home.

A few of my favourite ways to do it:

• A welcome that speaks your language. Bilingual signs and programmes, and a toast or a few words in your family’s language.
• A ceremony ritual from your culture. A tea ceremony, a handfasting or a family blessing, placed around the civil ceremony so the legal part stays simple.
• Food and drinks from home. A signature cocktail from your hometown, or a late-night snack from your childhood, served next to Dutch classics like bitterballen at the borrel.
• Music and moments that fit you. A first dance, a live band or a playlist that gets both sides of the family on the dance floor.
• A Dutch touch for visitors. A canal boat ride, stroopwafels at the welcome, or a bike-themed photo moment for guests who have never been to the Netherlands.

Here is the catch: these details only feel effortless when they are woven in with care. The timing has to work, the suppliers need to understand the request, the venue and municipality must allow it, and two families (sometimes on different continents) need to feel included. Done without local knowledge, it can eat months of your time.

This is exactly what I do in a consultation. Tell me where you are from and how you want your guests to feel, and I will show you how to blend it into a Dutch wedding, which suppliers can deliver it beautifully, and where it fits in your timeline.

6. Make sure your marriage is recognised back home

If you want your marriage to be valid in your home country too, find out what they need before the wedding. You may require a multilingual extract of your Dutch marriage certificate, and possibly an apostille on top. Rules differ per country, and some countries will not recognise a marriage in certain situations, so check with your embassy in advance.

7. A simple timeline

• 12 to 9 months before: choose your date, venue and ceremony type; check eligibility with the municipality.
• 9 to 6 months before: book key suppliers (photographer, caterer, florist, music) and start requesting documents.
• 6 to 4 months before: apostilles, translations and official notice to the municipality.
• 3 to 1 months before: confirm your day timeline, finalise contracts and guest logistics.
• The week of: relax. This is the part you get to enjoy.

Where to begin

Planning a wedding in a country that is not your own does not have to feel like a maze. You do not need a full-service planner either. You simply need an expert in your corner at the right moments: to check a supplier or contract, to match the right vendors to your style, or to turn that Pinterest board into a real plan.

That is exactly what my wedding consultations are for. In a 90-minute session we go through your questions, your vision and your next steps, and you leave with a clear roadmap and access to my black book of trusted Dutch suppliers. No question is too small.

Ready to start? Book your wedding consult or explore the Signature Series: three sessions to use whenever you need them, with €90 off.

*This article is general information and not legal advice. Rules change and differ per municipality, so always confirm the current requirements with your gemeente.