Adoption in the Netherlands

Adoption is the legal process of becoming a child’s permanent parent, providing a home to a child who may not be able to live with their birth family. Adoption may be considered by couples who are struggling to conceive, single would-be parents, and same-sex couples - but it is open to people from all backgrounds who are committed to providing a secure environment for a child long-term. This page looks at what you need to know about adoption in the Netherlands. 

Types of adoption

There are two main types of adoption in the Netherlands:

• Foreign (international) adoption
• Domestic adoption 

International adoption in the Netherlands

Until 2024, the majority of children adopted in the Netherlands were adopted from abroad. However, in May 2024, the Dutch government decided that adopting a child from abroad would no longer be permitted, because it could not rule out the possibility of abuse. 

International adoption agencies are therefore, at the government’s request, no longer accepting new applications for adoptions from abroad. The 500 prospective parents who were already in the adoption process before May 22, 2024, will still be able to adopt a child from abroad, as part of a six-year phase-out process that ends on May 1, 2030. 

Domestic adoption

For prospective parents hoping to adopt a child, this leaves domestic adoption as the only route. Domestic adoption is when parents adopt a child born in the Netherlands. However, domestic adoption is relatively rare in the Netherlands; only around 20 Dutch children are given up for adoption each year. 

The majority of adoptions that take place in the Netherlands are instead primarily step-parents adopting their step-children, or people adopting the children of their same-sex partners. You can find out more about this process below. 

If you want to learn more about the options available to you for domestic adoption, visit the Fiom website.

Foster care in the Netherlands

Although there are very few domestic adoptions in the Netherlands, there are plenty of fostering options. Being a foster parent means looking after a child who (temporarily) can’t live with their own parents. 

It is different from adoption because the goal is always for the child to eventually return to their own parents; the foster parent doesn’t (usually) become the child’s parent.  

More than 20.000 children in the Netherlands live in foster care, according to Ouders Van Nu. There is a great demand for more foster families to take them in, with more than 900 children sitting on the waiting list for a foster placement. 

To become a foster parent in the Netherlands, you must:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Be able to offer a stable living situation
• Apply for a certificate of no objection from the Child Protection Council (the foster agency will do this on your behalf)

For more information on foster care in the Netherlands, visit the Pleegzorg website (in Dutch).

Adopting a child in the Netherlands

The rest of this page focuses on the adoption process as it concerns step-parents and partners wishing to adopt their partner’s child(ren). 

In theory, anyone can adopt a child in the Netherlands, but there are a number of conditions that you must fulfil. 

There are a number of general conditions that apply to all adoptions:

• The adoption must be in the child’s interests.
• The child is a minor (under 18) and must agree to the adoption (if they are aged 12 or above).
• You must be at least 18 years older than the child you want to adopt. 
• Grandparents are not allowed to adopt their own grandchild. 

There are also some specific conditions that apply to different groups of potential adopters: 

Adoption by couples (heterosexual or same-sex)

Couples wishing to adopt must:

• Have been living together for at least three years before starting the adoption process (as proven by a cohabitation agreement or details of their registration)
• Have been caring for and raising the child for at least one year

Couples do not need to be married to adopt a child. 

Adoption by one parent (partner adoption)

A child can be adopted by their mother or father’s new partner. This is known as partner adoption. 

To adopt the child, the partner must:

• Have been living with the legal parent for at least three years before starting the adoption process
• Have been caring for the child for at least one year

Adoption by second mother (female partner of the birth mother)

A child can also be adopted by the female partner of the birth mother. In this case, the conditions outlined above do not apply; a woman can adopt her partner’s child before or after the birth. 

How to adopt a child: The adoption process

To adopt a child in the Netherlands, you must submit a request to the court. You’ll need a lawyer to do this on your behalf. After receiving your application, the judge will inform the relevant parties (such as the birth parents) of your application. 

There may or may not be a hearing, depending on the case's complexity. If you are invited to a hearing, this is your opportunity to put forward your case. If the adoption involves a child aged between eight and 18, the judge will also interview them as part of the decision-making process. This might be done in person or via a letter. 

Approximately four weeks later, the judge will issue their decision. Your lawyer will inform you of the outcome. The judge can either approve the application or reject it if they deem the adoption to not be possible, or if the birth parents have made an objection that the judge cannot ignore. 

You can appeal the judge’s decision. This must be done via your lawyer within three months of the decision. 

The whole procedure takes somewhere between three months and one year, depending on the complexity of the case. You should take into account the cost of hiring a lawyer and court fees, if a hearing is necessary. 

Giving your child up for adoption

If you are considering giving your child up for adoption, or you want some options after an unplanned pregnancy, you can visit the Fiom website, which has some information in English.

Fertility issues

If you or your partner are experiencing fertility issues, then you can find some information about the help and support you can receive on the Freya website.