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Municipality of Laarbeek: acknowledging parenthood of your child

You must go to the municipality in person to officially acknowledge parenthood of your child and to choose a surname. This is possible in every municipality in the Netherlands. You must make an appointment to do this.

If you do not hold Dutch citizenship or you live outside the Netherlands, other rules may apply. You will receive more information and advice about your personal situation during your appointment.

For acknowledgment of an unborn child you need the following documents:

A valid proof of identity of the acknowledgment and of the mother of the child.
If you lived abroad at marriageable age: proof of being unmarried.
If the mother does not appear in person: the mother's signed statement, in which she gives permission for the recognition.

For this product you can make an appointment by phone via telephone number 0492 469 700.
You must bring a valid proof of identity (passport, Dutch identity card or driver's license).

Recognition during pregnancy
This is called recognition of the unborn child. You can do the recognition in any municipality in the Netherlands. This does not necessarily have to be in the municipality where you live. If the (pregnant) mother does not appear in person, she must give written permission for recognition. Is your partner pregnant with multiple births? In that case, the recognition applies to all children of which your partner is currently pregnant. When a name choice has to be made, both parents must be present in person (see conditions).
Recognition can also take place at birth or at a later time.

  • Official acknowledgement and choice of surname are free of charge.
  • You can apply for an akte van erkenning (acknowledgement of parenthood certificate) in the municipality where the acknowledgment took place. A copy or extract from the civil status records costs: € 

You pay a fee for for an akte van erkenning (acknowledgement of parenthood certificate). For more information, contact the municipality

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.

Questions about this topic?

Contact the Municipality of Laarbeek

Last updated on 29 September 2023