Marriage/Registered partnership

Marriage or a registered partnership are similar forms of cohabitation. Requirements, costs and procedure are the same.

The main differences between marriage and registered partnership:

• In a marriage, you say yes to each other. With a registered partnership, you don't necessarily have to.
• To end a marriage, you always have to go to court. With a registered partnership, you do not have to go to court if you are in agreement and have no minor children.

A detailed explanation of the differences can be found on the Rijksoverheid website.  

• You and your partner are both 18 years of age or older.
• You must not already be married or in a registered partnership.
• 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 live in the Netherlands, then at least one of the prospective spouses/partners must hold Dutch nationality.

The cost of a wedding depends on the date, time, location and any additional requirements, among other things: 

Marriage/registered partnership and converting a registered partnership into a marriage

• Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.: €403.75
• Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.: €646.55

You pay this fee during the application via Ideal.

Other costs

• Wedding booklet/Registered partnership booklet: €48.35 
• Extract of civil status: €17.10
• Appointing a wedding officiant for one day: € 121.15 (already sworn in by the court)
• The appearance of an official as a witness at a wedding or registered partnership in the town hall costs per witness: €40.30. Appearing as a witness at any other location costs per witness €80.70.
• Designating a free wedding location for one day: € 153.50
• A change or cancellation of the date costs €105.00.

If you choose to get married for free, a number of Requirements apply:

• Free weddings are only available on Monday or Wednesday mornings at 9 a.m.
• at least one person must be registered in the municipality of Leudal in the Basic Registration of PersonsBRP);
• The ceremony lasts a maximum of 15 minutes and takes place in the Heythuysen town hall;
• In addition to the bride and groom, a maximum of 4 people may be present;
• there is no opportunity for music, speeches or a personal word by third parties;
• additional fees will be charged (wedding booklet, municipal witnesses, etc.).
• you cannot choose a wedding officiant, the person who will perform the ceremony will be assigned by the department

• Wedding hall in the town hall, Leudalplein 1 in Heythuysen
• Castle Groot Buggenum
• the Busjop
• Aldenghoor Castle
• Leudal estate
  • If you are getting married at Kasteel Groot Buggenum, Boscafé De Busjop, Kasteel Aldenghoor or Landgoed Leudal, please reserve the date with this location first. Then you can register your intended marriage with the municipality online.
• Get married at a private location in Leudal
  • Getting married or entering into a registered partnership is possible within the entire municipality of Leudal. Couples can propose a location themselves. The municipality assesses this location. The main criteria here are "public order" and "appropriateness".
  • Those who make the request for a venue are responsible for such things as timely requests, safety, facilities, layout of the venue, risks, liability and arrangements with the wedding officiant. The owner/manager of the venue provides a written agreement to use the venue.
  • If you choose your own wedding location, you must upload the application form and statement of agreement from the owner/manager when you submit the digital wedding notification. You can download the forms under the heading "Documents and forms".

In the wedding notification, you can choose one of our wedding officiants. 

You can also choose to have your own wedding officiant. Someone can be specially appointed to perform your marriage or register your partnership, such as a family member or close friend. This person must then submit a current appointment order from another municipality with accompanying affidavit from the Court. 

If you choose your own wedding officiant (appointed and sworn), we will send you the application forms after we receive your notification of intended marriage.

For more information, please contact the Civil Affairs team, Services Department. Telephone: (0475) - 85 90 00.

Do you want to change your name use after your marriage? After the celebration of your marriage, you can digitally submit your choice to the municipality. You can do this by logging in with your DigiD. The change of name will not be reflected in your marriage booklet. This will only show your family name. This is only possible if you live in Leudal. 

Do you not live in Leudal and want to change your name use after your marriage? Then change your name use in the Basisregistratie Personen (BRP) of your municipality of residence. This can be done from the moment your marriage has been processed in the BRP. 

If you want to cancel or change the date, there will be a charge for this. This amount is € 105.00

It is possible to convert your registered partnership into a marriage. You can choose in which municipality you want to convert the registered partnership. The conversion of a registered partnership into a marriage is formally an administrative act that can be handled by both partners at the counter. You no longer need witnesses for this. There is no renewal ceremony for this conversion. Please make an appointment by telephone.

Convert if you are not registered in the Netherlands

If you both live abroad and you want to convert the Dutch registered partnership into a marriage, you must do this through the municipality of The Hague.

Not all countries recognize a registered partnership. This also applies to same-sex marriage. More information can be found on the website of Rijksoverheid.