Marriage

Before you can get married, report your proposed marriage to the municipality where you want to get married. 

Good to know

• You must file the declaration at least 14 days and up to one year before the wedding.
• A "Notification of Intended Marriage" is free of charge.
• 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 marry your own child, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, grandchild, half-brother, half-sister.
• You should not be forced into marriage.

Use of names

You may use your partner's surname if you are married. You can indicate this on the 'Notification of intended marriage' form or go to Request change of name usage.

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

Convert registered partnership to marriage?

Contact the Public Center

A special civil registrar (babs) will perform the marriage ceremony. Approximately three weeks in advance, you can ask the Public Service Center which registrar will be performing the marriage ceremony.

The wedding officiants are happy to introduce themselves to you!

Do you have a preference for a particular civil servant? Please let us know, and we will take this into account as much as possible. The wedding official will contact you to get acquainted and discuss your wishes for the speech.

Would you like to have your marriage performed by your 'own' civil registrar, for example a family member or close friend? That is possible. He or she must be sworn in at the court as a 'civil registrar for one day'. Indicate your wish for your own civil registrar on the 'Notification of intended marriage' form (at the top of the page under the heading 'Arrange directly')..

It is mandatory to have witnesses at a wedding. There can be two, three, or four witnesses. Anyone over the age of 18 can be a witness. Submit a copy of your witnesses' ID to the marriage registry office. If possible, do this when you submit your 'Notice of intended marriage'. If you do not have your own witnesses, you can choose witnesses from the municipality.

Getting married in Opsterland can be done in a variety of places. 

Municipal wedding location

Next to the town hall in Beetsterzwaag is the Lycklamahûs: a beautiful stately building on a vast garden. In the wedding hall of the Lycklamahûs there is room for 60 guests (excluding 4 witnesses). 

Permanent designated wedding venues 

In addition to the Lycklamahûs in Beetsterzwaag, the following locations have been designated as permanent wedding locations by the Municipal Board:

• 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.

Own wedding location for 1 day

Do you want to get married at a different location? Then you can have a location designated as a wedding location for 1 day. Please indicate this during your 'Notification of intended marriage'.

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

Lycklamahûs

 Permanent designated wedding venues

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

Own wedding location 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 contact the Public Center first. Additional documents may need to be turned in for the marriage. 

• 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.

You can get married in Opsterland free of charge on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 9:00 am. The Requirements are:

• at least one of the prospective spouses is a resident of Opsterland;
• there can be a maximum of two witnesses and no additional guests;
• you get married in a consulting room, not in the Lycklamahûs;
• a free completion takes about 10 minutes;
• the marriage ceremony consists only of the legally required formalities;
• there will be no speech.

Exception 

Is at least one of the spouses-to-be entitled to remission of (municipal) taxes? Then what is stated above does not apply. The marriage can be celebrated in the Lycklamahûs with a speech and in the presence of guests.

You can get married at an attractive price in the wedding hall of the Lycklamahûs. 

• Budget weddings are held Monday through Thursday. Weddings begin at fixed times: 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
• There will be no speech.
• The wedding ceremony lasts a maximum of 15 minutes and is performed by one of the civil registry officials.
• You may bring up to 10 people with you, including witnesses. 

Are you interested in a budget wedding?

If so, please contact the Public Center