Wed
How nice that you are getting married! Please read all the important information below.
How does it work?
Notification of intended marriage (formerly called 'betrothal')
- This can be done from 1 year before the wedding date (see 'Arrange online').
- Would you still like to set the date earlier? Then email trouwen@zoetermeer.nl. The notification should be done 1 year before the wedding date.
- Make the notification at least 14 days before your wedding date in the municipality where you are getting married.
- The notification is valid for 1 year after receipt by the registrar.
- Do you both live abroad? And does at least one of you both have the Dutch nationality? Then you should file the notification with the municipality of The Hague.
- The reservation is not fixed until it is confirmed by the municipality. For example, due to many weddings at the same time, there may not be a wedding officiant available or the Commission Room may be occupied.
Simply get married
- Tuesday morning at 9:45 a.m. or 10:15 a.m. at City Hall.
- Just the official act, no speech.
- No choice wedding officiant.
- Average waiting time: about 4 months.
- Maximum number of visitors: 15 (including bride and groom and witnesses).
Free wedding
- Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. or 9:15 a.m. at City Hall.
- Just the official act, no speech.
- No choice wedding officiant.
- Average waiting time: about 9 months.
- Maximum number of visitors: 15 (including bride and groom and witnesses).
Rules for getting married
- You are both 18 years of age or older.
- Both of you are not already married and you are not in a registered partnership with someone else.
- You should not be forced into marriage.
- Are you under guardianship? Then you need permission from the curator or Cantonal Judge.
Foreign documents (deeds)
You must submit foreign documents before you can report proposed marriage/registered partnership if:
- Your parents' details are not registered in the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP).
- You were previously married and the marriage was dissolved abroad by divorce or death (and this has not yet been registered in the BRP). You can check the above at www.mijnoverheid.nl.
- If any of these situations apply to you or your partner, contact the municipality in time.
Keep in mind:
- Requesting foreign documents can sometimes take several months.
- These documents often also need to be legalized and translated.
- For more information, visit www.rijksoverheid.nl.
You marry in limited community of property
In the past, you automatically married in community of property. You shared all your assets with your husband or wife. Since Jan. 1, 2018, you marry in limited community of property. Do you want to arrange it differently? Then you can have a deed with prenuptial agreements drawn up beforehand at a notary.
Getting married before church
Do you also want to get married in church? This is possible only after you are married before the church.
Wedding officiant
You can give your preference for a wedding officiant. They are happy to introduce themselves to you: Who will be your wedding officiant? We will take your wishes into account as much as possible.
It is also possible to have someone appointed as wedding officiant for 1x. To do so, please fill in the form under 'Arrange online'.
This form can be submitted up to 3 months before the marriage.
Wedding booklet
- A marriage booklet is given after getting married if it has been applied for and paid for.
- This booklet has space for church notes and for registering children.
Name usage after marriage
Both men and women may use the partner's last name after marriage. Your own sex name does not change, only the name by which you are addressed.
More information can be found at: Changing Use Surname.
Need marriage certificate?
You can request a certificate immediately after the marriage. More information can be found at: Copy (excerpt) of marital status.
What to do?
- Under 'Arrange online' complete the form.
- After submitting the form, we will contact you.
Wedding Location
You must contact a wedding venue yourself to see if the wedding date is available and to discuss the additional costs.
Watching your wedding live via livestream
We offer you the opportunity for your loved ones who cannot attend the ceremony to watch live (via a livestream connection).
How does it work?
- When setting the wedding date, you specify whether you want a livestream connection.
- You will receive a link with a code. You share this link and code with your guests.
- At the time of the wedding, your guests log in via the link and code so they can watch the ceremony live.
- Currently, this service is free. In the future, we will start charging a fee for this.
Cancel
Please note! Cancellation of a set date can only be done by letter with your account number included. Cancellation costs money, whatever the reason. This also applies to free weddings.
Converting a registered partnership into a marriage
To do so, fill out the form under 'Arrange online'.
Registered partnership
Would you like to enter into a registered partnership? You can find all the information about this at: Registered partnership.
Arrange online
Would you prefer to make the notification at City Hall? This is only possible if you already know where and when you are getting married and who your witnesses are. We would also like to hear your preference for a wedding officiant. To make an appointment, call 14 079.
You both come to the appointment and you bring:
- A valid identification document.
- Copy of valid ID of witnesses.
- Do you want your own wedding officiant? Then bring the completed form Request Designation of Wedding Official for 1 Day (pdf).
From partnership to marriage
Do you want to convert your registered partnership to marriage?
Use the form:
Converting a registered partnership into a marriage
Appoint wedding officiant for 1 day
Use the form:
Request for appointment of wedding officiant for 1 day (pdf)
Costs
You pay the cost in advance. We will send you a bill for it.
Cost of marriage or registered partnership
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| At City Hall or at a wedding location designated by the municipality | € 416,14 |
Note! This does not include the cost of the venue. The chosen venue will charge you separately for this.
Other costs
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Simple marriage or registered partnership (location city hall) | € 207,59 |
| Cancel within 2 weeks before the scheduled wedding date | € 200,80 |
| Cancel at least 2 weeks before the scheduled wedding date | € 88,89 |
| Wedding booklet/partnership booklet | € 45,20 |
| Witness of the congregation (only in locations of the congregation) | € 28,49 |
| Wedding officiant for 1 day for 1 wedding, without swearing in by the court | € 61,31 |
| Wedding officiant for 1 day for 1 wedding, with swearing in by the court | € 183,91 |
| Certificate of marital competence | € 29,00 |
Price changes and typographical errors reserved.
Converting registered partnership to marriage
Converting a registered partnership to a marriage at the counter is free of charge. Do you want a full ceremony? Then you pay the same fees as for marriage (see above).