Municipality of Zaanstad: 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.
Please note: your request can only be processed if one of the parents lives in the municipality of Zaanstad. You can then call 14 075 for an appointment.
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.
- 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: € 14,30.
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 Zaanstad