Acknowledgement of child

You can acknowledge your child if: 

• If you have or will have a child, but are not married or in a registered partnership with the mother.
• If you are the duomoeder.

You can read more about the acknowledgement of your child on the National Government’s website.

You can acknowledge your child before birth, during birth or at a later date. Are you acknowledging before birth? Then your child will immediately have a legal father or duomoeder from birth.

• During pregnancy, this can be arranged in every municipality in the Netherlands.
• When registering the birth, which has to be done in the municipality where the child is born.
• After registering the birth, which can be done at every municipality in the Netherlands.

Make an appointment

Make an appointment by pressing the button above or calling 14 036. If the acknowledger, the mother and/or child was born in a foreign country, or does not live in the Netherlands, or has only been briefly living in the Netherlands, then you have to make an appointment by phone. You will hear which (extra) documents you will need to bring with you over the phone.

What to bring along to your appointment

• A valid proof of identity for the acknowledger (personally present).
• A valid proof of identity for the mother (or a copy of this if she is not present in person; this is only possible with a second or subsequent child).
• Written permission of the mother for the acknowledgement (if she is not present in person; this is only possible with a second or subsequent child).
• If your child has their own identification card and/or passport, bring these along to the appointment.
• Is your child over 12 years old and would you like to acknowledge them? Then bring your child with you to the appointment. The child will also need a valid proof of identity.

Acknowledgement of children over 12 years old

Is your child above the age of 12 and would you like to acknowledge them? Both the mother and the child will need to attend the appointment. The child will also need a valid proof of identity.

A child above the age of 16 will need to attend the appointment with the acknowledger. The mother’s consent is not needed. Children can indicate which surname they want after acknowledgement from the age of 16. Please visit the National Government’s website for more information.

Custody

When acknowledging the child you will immediately determine if you will have joint custody or if the mother will have sole custody. You cannot change this decision afterwards through us. This can be done through the parental authority register or through the courts. On the National Government's website you can learn more about what custody means (in Dutch).

Did you acknowledge your child before 1 January 2023 and do you still want both parents to have parental responsibility? Read here to learn how to still arrange custody (in Dutch).