June 9, 2026 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on How to correct your name after Dutch naturalisation How to correct your name after Dutch naturalisation For many immigrants, obtaining Dutch nationality is an important milestone. However, during the naturalisation process in the Netherlands, mistakes can occur in the registration or determination of a person’s name. In some cases, poeple only discover years later that their… Continue Reading
October 21, 2025 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on Judicial consent to change a child’s surname in The Netherlands Judicial consent to change a child’s surname in The Netherlands The issue of a child’s surname can become contentious following separation or divorce. The child’s name contributes to its identity, sense of belonging, and social recognition, but if this name differs from that of their main carer or siblings, this… Continue Reading
July 5, 2024 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on New legislation passed to change slave names New legislation passed to change slave names As of the 1st of July 2024, you can change your last name if you have a surname that stems from a slave name. The purpose of this law is to address the damage that families can suffer from their… Continue Reading
January 24, 2024 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on Now possible in The Netherlands: Giving your child a double last name! Now possible in The Netherlands: Giving your child a double last name! The last name of your child will always have a special connection to you as parents and to your family line as a whole. Until now, you could only choose one parent’s name on your child’s birth certificate. Double last… Continue Reading
November 9, 2023 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on Getting your maiden name back after your divorce – FAQ’s Getting your maiden name back after your divorce – FAQ’s Taking your partner’s name upon marriage is still quite common. However, you may not want to keep it after the divorce. This blog discusses some frequently asked questions about when you can officially change back to your maiden name in… Continue Reading
August 17, 2023 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on Can I register the foreign birth certificate of my surrogate child? Can I register the foreign birth certificate of my surrogate child? As the world develops and technology advances, so do our relationships. These days it is not uncommon to conceive a child via IVF or via surrogacy. Conceiving a surrogate child in another country can lead to unforseen complications. Commercial surrogacy… Continue Reading
April 3, 2023 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on New Dutch legislation for naming children after both parents New Dutch legislation for naming children after both parents From the 1st of January 2024, parents in The Netherlands will have the choice of giving their children both of their last names. New legislation enabling double names was passed in the upper house on March 21st. Continue Reading
February 1, 2023 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on Legal paternity and name change Legal paternity and name change In the Netherlands, if a child is born without registration of a father, a child will bear their mother’s surname. But what happens to a child’s surname if legal paternity is established later on? Continue Reading
January 12, 2023 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on Name exchange: middle name becomes first name for bullied woman Name exchange: middle name becomes first name for bullied woman In The Netherlands, it is possible to apply to the courts to change your first name(s). In a recent court case a woman applied to exchange her first name with her middle name, rather than take a new name. Continue Reading
November 29, 2022 Maria Bowmer Post in Name change Leave a Comment on What’s in a name? Parents dispute what to call their children What’s in a name? Parents dispute what to call their children The name you are given at birth reflects your background and culture. But what if your parents cannot agree what they should call you? Or what culture your name should reflect? In a recent case before a Dutch family court,… Continue Reading