Quick Answer
What is ondertrouw?
Ondertrouw is the traditional Dutch term for formally notifying the municipality of an intention to marry, a step that must happen before the civil ceremony can be scheduled and performed. The formal legal name changed in 2015 to "melding van het voornemen om te trouwen," but "ondertrouw" remains the everyday word Dutch couples and registrars still use.
Last updated:
Last updated:
What is ondertrouw?
Also called: melding voornemen huwelijk, notice of intended marriage, Dutch marriage banns.
Before any Dutch couple stands in the trouwzaal, there is a paperwork step most guests never see: ondertrouw. Historically this was closer to the English "banns" — a public notice period that gave anyone with a legal objection a window to raise it. The public-posting part is long gone, but the underlying idea survives — notify the municipality first, then the wedding date can be locked in.
What actually happens
The couple submits notice to the municipality where one of them lives, typically with ID and, if either partner has been married before, documentation of that marriage's end. Historically Dutch law required a minimum gap between filing ondertrouw and the wedding date — a cooling-off/verification window — though the modern process has been streamlined and the strict waiting period is no longer the practical bottleneck it once was. Once notice is accepted, the municipality can confirm and schedule the civil ceremony date.
Planning notes
- •Start ondertrouw paperwork as early as the municipality allows — it is the gating step before the town hall will confirm a ceremony date and time.
- •Check the specific gemeente's current rules directly; requirements and minimum notice periods can vary by municipality and have changed over time.
- •If either partner is not Dutch or was previously married abroad, build in extra weeks for document translation/apostille before filing.
Track legal deadlines alongside your wedding timeline
Weddingkart's checklist can hold administrative to-dos like paperwork filings side by side with vendor and guest tasks, so nothing with a hard municipal deadline slips.
See RSVP tracking →Frequently Asked Questions
Is ondertrouw still a legal requirement in the Netherlands?
The step still exists, now formally called "melding van het voornemen om te trouwen," but "ondertrouw" remains the common name couples and municipal staff use for notifying the town hall of an intended marriage before the ceremony can be scheduled.
How long before the wedding should a couple file ondertrouw?
It varies by municipality, so couples should confirm directly with their local gemeente, but it is generally one of the earliest administrative steps in Dutch wedding planning — well before venue and vendor bookings are finalised in some cases.
Does ondertrouw involve a public announcement, like traditional banns?
Historically yes — it functioned like the English banns, giving a public window for objections. That public-posting requirement has since been dropped from the modern process; today it is an administrative filing with the municipality, not a public notice.
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By Mayank JaiswalLast updated