Municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch: acknowledging parenthood of your child

By acknowledging parenthood of a child, you assume legal parenthood, either before or after the child's birth. To do so, make an appointment with the municipality first.  

Acknowledging a child

If you assume legal parenthood for a child, this means concretely:  

• you are obliged to take care of the child.  
• the child receives mutual inheritance rights.  
• the child can take your surname.

You can already acknowledge the child during pregnancy (an 'acknowledgement of unborn foetus'). Acknowledgement is also possible during or after the declaration of birth if there are not yet 2 parents on the child's birth certificate. You do not have to be the biological parent for this.  

Conditions

Do you want to acknowledge a child before it is born? This is possible if you meet the following conditions:  

• The biological mother is not married or registered partner with someone else.  
• You both have the Dutch nationality.  
• You have both always lived in the Netherlands.  
• You were both born in the Netherlands.

If all these apply, you can make an appointment.  

Do you not meet all the conditions?

In that case, you can only make an appointment by telephone. We will first check whether the child can be acknowledged. You can then call +31 73 615 51 55.  

Requirements for the application

Bring the following with you when you acknowledge your child:  

• Valid proof of identity of the person who wants to recognise the child.  
• Valid proof of identity of the biological mother.  
• If the child is 12 years old or older: then also a valid proof of identity of the child.  
• Is only the father or duo mother coming to the municipality? Then he/she needs written permission from the biological mother (and possibly the child under 16) to be able to recognise the child. You will need a consent form for this. To do so, contact the municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch via telephone number +31 73 615 51 55.   
• If the child is 16 years of age or older, he/she must come in person.

Costs

• Acknowledgement and choice of name are free of charge.  
• You can apply for a certificate of recognition in the municipality where the recognition took place.

You do pay a fee for applying for a deed. For more information, contact the municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch via telephone number +31 73 615 51 55 or send an e-mail using the digital contact form.  

How long does it take

The municipality cannot always process recognition immediately. It depends on the personal situation of the child and the recogniser. For example, recognition takes longer if the child was born before 1985 or if the person recognising the child does not have Dutch nationality.  

Child's surname

When acknowledging the child, the parents can also choose the surname of the person who acknowledges the child. You can only do this for the first child within your relationship and no later than at the birth registration. The biological mother must come to the town hall in person. Subsequent children will be given the same surname as your first child.  

Parental authority

Did you recognise your child (as unborn child) before 1 January 2023 and are unmarried and do not have a registered partnership? Then only the mother (from whom the child was born) has automatic parental authority over the child (if born). She must then be of age and not under guardianship.  

Acknowledgement does not automatically give you parental authority over a child. You can apply for this online at the court.  If you do not do this then only the mother has parental authority.  

From 1 January 2023

From 1 January 2023, custody will be arranged immediately upon recognition. Are you unmarried and not in a registered partnership? Then you say what you want with the custody of the (unborn) child at the time of recognition. You can choose that the mother and the person recognising the child automatically both have custody. Do you want only the mother to have custody? If so, the acknowledgement will state that only the mother has custody of the child. Note! You must both be present at the acknowledgement if you choose that the mother has sole custody.  

Adoption

Those who adopt a child take on the upbringing and daily care of a child born to other parents. You do not submit a request for adoption to the municipality. What steps you do need to take can be read on the Adoption website.   

Further information

For more information, contact the municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch by phone or WhatsApp +31 73 615 51 55 or send an e-mail via the digital contact form.