Registering a birth
Have you had a baby? Register the birth at the municipality within 3 days. Register your child in the municipality where the child was born. You can register online, or make an appointment to come to the service desk.
Registration online
You can register online if:
- At least 1 of the parents has Dutch nationality
- You gave birth at the LUMC
- (Usually) if you gave birth at home. To be sure, ask your midwife
For online registration it’s required that:
- The other parent acknowledged the child before birth.
- The parent registring the birth has a birth certificate from the LUMC or the midwife.
- The parent registering the child has DigiD.
The municipality will process your online registration within 3 working days. You will receive a confirmation.
Registration at the service desk
To register the birth at the service desk, please bring:
- A valid proof of identity: your passport, European identity card or Dutch alien document.
- A declaration from the doctor or midwife.
- If you are not married or registered partners and you acknowledged the child before the birth, please bring the certificate of acknowledgement.
- If you did not acknowledge the child before the birth, you can do so during the registration of the birth. You can find more information on the page Acknowledging a child (in Dutch).
- Please bring your marriage certificate if you would like your child added to this record.
The municipality will process your registration at the service desk immediately.
Below you can choose the appointment button which applies to your situation. Some appointments may take more time than others.
- If one or both parents do not have the Dutch nationality, please make an appointment using this button:
- If both parents have the Dutch nationality, please make an appointment using this button:
Heel prick and hearing test as soon as possible after birth
The heel prick and hearing test should be done as soon as possible after birth. Was your baby born at home? Always register the birth within 3 days. The heel prick and hearing test can only be done after the declaration. Babies born in the hospital receive the heel prick and hearing test there.
Naming your child
View the options for choosing a surname for your child on the page Choosing your child last name (in Dutch).
After the registration
After registration we will issue a birth certificate. We will register your child in the Personal Records Database (BRP).
More information
Register online (in Dutch)
Day of birth – day of registering
- Born on Monday – register Thursday at the latest
- Born on Tuesday – register Friday at the latest
- Born on Wednesday – register Monday at the latest
- Born on Thursday – register Monday at the latest
- Born on Friday – register Tuesday at the latest
- Born on Saturday – register Tuesday at the latest
- Born on Sunday – register Wednesday at the latest
Do you live in Leiden?
- The municipality will register your child in Leiden. Afterwards you will receive the personal record of your child. This record states the names with which your child is registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP) as well as your child’s Citizen Service Number (BSN).
- The municipality will inform official authorities about the birth of your child. For example to the Social Security Bank (SVB) for child benefits and to the organization that will execute a hearing screening and the heel prick screening test.
- Please inform your health insurance about the birth of your child.
Do you live in another municipality?
- The municipality of Leiden will inform the municipality where you are registered about the birth of your child.
- The municipality where you are registered will inform official authorities about the birth of your child. For example to the Social Security Bank (SVB) for child benefits and to the organization that will execute a hearing screening and the heel prick screening test.
- Please inform your health insurance about the birth of your child.
Marriage certificate
Did you register online? In that case you can choose to register the data of your child in your marriage certificate. This is not required. You can add your child’s surname, first name(s) and date of birth to your marriage certificate yourself. The municipality can also add your child’s data. You can make an appointment at the service desk. Adding data to your marriage certificate is free. Make an appointment
- Someone who was present at the birth, for example a family member or friend.
- An adult housemate of the mother, if she gave birth at home.
- The head of the hospital, the prison or another institution where the birth has taken place.
In case there is nobody who can register your child, the mayor of the municipality will register the birth. The mayor will assign a civil servant to register the birth. If someone else registers the birth, it is not possible to register online. Call 14 071 to make an appointment to come to the service desk.
- Do you want to arrange the acknowledgement of your child together with the registration of the birth? Then make an appointment to come to the service desk.
- You can also arrange the acknowledgement at a later date. More information on the page Acknowledging a child (in Dutch).
Did you acknowledge your child and want to apply for custody?
Are you not married or registered partners? And you did acknowledge your child? Then you can apply for joint custody. Joint custody means that both parents are legal representatives of the child. Go to www.rechtspraak.nl to arrange custody of your child online.
Do you want to know more about custody?
Please visit www.rijksoverheid.nl.
Is your child born in the Netherlands, but it does not have the Dutch nationality? Read the website of Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (IND) for more information.
Has your child died before or after the birth? We would like to help you personally. Please call 14 071 to make an appointment.