Registered partnership

Before entering into a registered partnership, you must notify the municipality. 

Good to know

• You must submit the "Notice of Intended Registered Partnership" at least 14 days and no more than one year before the registered partnership.
• Submitting a report is free.
• You and your partner are both 18 years of age or older.
• You must not already be married or in a registered partnership.
• You may not enter into a registered partnership with your own child, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, grandchild, half-brother, or half-sister.
• You cannot be forced into a registered partnership.

Use of names

You may use your partner’s last name if you are in a registered partnership. You can indicate this on the “Notification of Intended Registered Partnership” form or go to “Request to Change Name Usage.”

Your own surname will remain on official documents such as your passport, identity card, or driver's license.

Converting a registered partnership into a marriage?

Contact the Public Center

A special civil registrar will officiate the civil partnership. You can contact the Public Service Center about three weeks in advance to find out which registrar will officiate the ceremony.

The babsen would like to introduce themselves to you!

Do you have a preference for a specific officiant? Please let us know, and we will do our best to accommodate your request. The officiant will contact you to get to know you and discuss your preferences for the ceremony.

Would you like to have your registered partnership officiated by your “own” civil registrar? That is possible. To do so, he or she must be sworn in by the court as a “civil registrar for one day.” Please indicate your preference for your own civil registrar on the “Notification of Intended Registered Partnership” form (at the top of the page under the heading “Arrange Now”).

It is mandatory to have witnesses for a registered partnership. There can be two, three, or four witnesses. Anyone over the age of 18 may serve as a witness. Submit a copy of your witnesses’ identification to the municipality. If possible, do this when you file the “Notice of Intended Registered Partnership.” If you do not have your own witnesses, you can choose witnesses provided by the municipality.

You can enter into a registered partnership at various locations in Opsterland. 

Municipal location

Next to the town hall in Beetsterzwaag stands the Lycklamahûs: a beautiful, stately building set in a spacious garden. The Lycklamahûs can accommodate 60 guests (excluding 4 witnesses). 

Designated locations 

In addition to the Lycklamahûs in Beetsterzwaag, the following locations have been designated as permanent sites by the municipal executive:

• Lauswolt country estate in Beetsterzwaag
• St. Hippolytus church in Olterterp
• The Slotplaats in Bakkeveen (contact the Public Center for this location)

Please note that you must make your own reservations for these locations. Location costs are at your own expense.

Private venue for 1 day

Would you like to enter into a registered partnership at a different location? If so, you can have a location designated as available for one day. Please indicate this when submitting your “Notice of Intended Registered Partnership.”

Please note that no pets are allowed in the wedding room at the Lycklamahûs. With the exception of assistance/guide dogs.

Lycklamahûs

 Designated locations

Please note that these are the municipal fees. Please ask the venue rental fees at the venue itself.

Your own venue for 1 day

Please note that these are the municipal fees. Please ask the venue rental fees at the venue itself.

Other costs

Special situations

In the following situations, we recommend that you first contact the Public Service Center. You may need to submit additional documents for the registered partnership. 

• You were born abroad.
• You do not have the Dutch nationality.
• You have lived or are currently living abroad.
• Your previous marriage was dissolved abroad.

In Opsterland, you can enter into a free civil partnership on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 9:00 a.m. The Requirements :

• at least one of the prospective spouses is a resident of Opsterland;
• there can be a maximum of two witnesses and no additional guests;
• Your civil partnership ceremony will take place in a consultation room, not at the Lycklamahûs;
• It takes about 10 minutes to register a civil partnership for free;
• there will be no speech.

Exception 

Is at least one of the prospective spouses eligible for an exemption from (municipal) taxes? If so, the above does not apply. In that case, the registered partnership may be entered into at the Lycklamahûs with a speech and in the presence of guests.

You can enter into a registered partnership at the Lycklamahûs at an attractive price. 

• Budget-friendly registered partnerships can be registered Monday through Thursday. Registered partnerships begin at fixed times: 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
• There will be no speech.
• The registered partnership ceremony takes no more than 15 minutes and is conducted by one of the civil registry officials.
• You may bring up to 10 people with you, including witnesses. 

Are you interested in a low-cost civil partnership?

If so, please contact the Public Center