Changing the registration of gender on official documents
Do you want to change the registration of your gender designation on your official documents? If so, it must first be changed on your birth certificate. For people born in the Netherlands, this is done in the municipality where you were born. If you want a gender-neutral birth certificate, you can send a request to the district court. After the registration of your gender has been changed on your birth certificate, you can apply for a new passport, identity card or driving licence.
Last updated: 26 October 2022
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Changing the registration of gender at the municipality where you were born
The Government of the Netherlands uses 2 genders: ‘man’ (male) and ‘vrouw’ (female). For people born in the Netherlands, changing the registration of your gender from ‘man’ to ‘vrouw’, and vice versa, can be done at the municipality where you were born.
Requesting a gender-neutral registration
It is not possible to choose gender-neutral registration at the municipality. Do you want to change the registration of your gender to gender-neutral? If so, send a request to the district court.
Rules for changing the registration of gender on official documents
There are rules for changing the registration of your gender on official documents.
Change of registration of gender and first name
Do you want to have the registration of your gender changed by the municipality in the Netherlands where you were born? If so, you can also specify your new first name(s). The municipality where you were born will then put those names on your birth certificate.
Requesting a change of gender registration
You can have the registration of your gender changed in the municipality where you were born. That municipality will amend your birth certificate. The municipality where you were born will notify the municipality where you live of the change. The municipality where you live will then amend your data in the Basisregistratie Personen – BRP (Personal Records Database).
Were you born outside the Netherlands? If so, you can submit a request to the municipality of Den Haag (The Hague).
Applying for a new passport, identity card or driving licence after changing the registration of your gender
Is your new gender registration entered in the BRP? If so, you can apply for a new passport, identity card or driving licence. You can do this with the municipality where you live. Old documents are no longer valid, and you must return them.
Laws and regulations (in Dutch)
Burgerlijk Wetboek, Boek 1, artikel 28