Municipality of Culemborg: acknowledging parenthood of your child

If you do not have Dutch nationality or if you live abroad, different rules may apply. You will receive more information and advice about your personal situation during your appointment.

Does the mother go to church? Then take the following with you:

• your valid ID;
• valid identity document of the mother.

Doesn't the mother go to church? Then take the following with you:

• your valid ID;
• written permission from the mother;
• the mother's signature on the written consent;
• valid identity document of the mother.

Do you or the mother live abroad? Please also take the following with you:

• Foreign proof that you are not married.

You need to make an appointment. 

• Online: https://www.culemborg.nl/afspraak-maken#select/
• E-mail: info@culemborg.nl
• Telephone number: +31 345 477 700

Choice of surname first child

When your first child is recognized, you can choose which surname it will receive: the name of the mother or the acknowledgment.

Do you want the first child to be given the name of the acknowledger? In that case, the mother must come to the municipality, written permission from the mother is not sufficient.
Don't you choose? Then the child will automatically be given the mother's surname. All subsequent children in the family will automatically have the same surname as your first child.

Official acknowledgement and choice of surname are free of charge.

The acknowledgement cannot always be processed immediately. This depends on the personal situation of the child and the person acknowledging the child. For example, acknowledgement takes longer if the child was born before 1985 or if the person having the child officially recognised does not hold Dutch citizenship.