I have recently come back from Amsterdam and while I was there, I couldn’t help but notice how romantic this city looks. Forget all about Paris and Venice: the award for the most romantic city in Europe goes to Amsterdam with its bridges, its canals and its beautiful buildings. If you are planning to get married in the Netherlands, it is important that you check the requirements for a Dutch wedding, given that it is quite difficult to get married if you don’t have ties to the country.

You must know that only civil ceremonies are legally recognised in Holland and both heterosexual and gay couples can get married or be in a registered partnership. Holland was the first country (in 2001) to legalise same-sex unions.

If one of you is dutch, it is necessary that you give at least 14 days notice before your ceremony. However, if one or both of you is not Dutch, it is strongly advised that you give one to three months notice at the municipal authority. In order to get married in the Netherlands, at least one partner needs to be resident in the Netherlands. You must be over 18 and not already married. As far as the required documents are concerned, you should provide your ID, your birth certificate, a proof of address, a proof of nationality and a proof of civil status. When you give notice that you want to get married, you typically don’t have to pay anything. However, if additional documents are required, you might be charged.

Curious facts: Marrying a Dutch citizen will not automatically grant you Dutch citizenship and couples keep their own names for official documents.

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Looking for more inspiration, advice and ideas on where to get married, then look no further and check out our Weddy Blog.