Making arrangements before you get married

Report your marriage or partnership online

Are you planning to get married or enter into a registered partnership? If so, you must file a notification of intended marriage or partnership. This can be done from 1 year before the ceremony. The notification must reach us no later than 2 weeks before the planned date. 

Before you file this report with the municipality, there are a number of things you need to consider. 

What kind of ceremony

Municipality of Kerkrade offers different types of ceremonies. 

At the Town Hall or one of the other official Kerkrade wedding venues

  • Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    Are you marrying at one of the locations outside the Town Hall? If so, in consultation with the location and the civil registry department, it is also possible to get married at a different time.
  • The duration of the ceremony is 30 minutes
  • You can indicate your preference for a wedding officiant
  • The number of attendees depends on the chosen location

At the civil registration desk in the City Office

  • Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon
  • The duration of the ceremony is up to 10 minutes
  • The municipality decides which officiant will marry you.
  • The number of attendees is limited to the two partners and a maximum of 2 witnesses. 

Free ceremony at the civil registration desk in the City Office

If you choose a free ceremony, at least one of the prospective spouses/partners must live in Kerkrade. 

  • The duration of the ceremony is up to 10 minutes
  • The municipality decides which officiant will marry you.
  • The number of attendees is limited to the two partners and a maximum of 2 witnesses. 

Date and time

You can book the date and time of the ceremony directly online. To do this, you will need the DigiD of both partners. And copies of the front and back of the witnesses' IDs. 

If either of you was born abroad or does not have Dutch nationality, more documents are needed. In that case, contact the municipality via telephone number 14 045.

Location and wedding officiant

In Kerkrade, we have several official wedding venues. These are places approved by the municipality where you may get married.

If you choose a location other than the Council House, you must make your own arrangements with the location for the date and time of the wedding ceremony. Please allow for additional venue rental costs.

Do you have a preference for a wedding officiant? If so, please let us know. If you choose a free marriage or counter marriage, the municipality of Kerkrade will determine which officiant will marry you.

What does it cost?

  • Notifying that you want to get married (notification of intended marriage): free of charge
  • Wedding ceremony Council House on Monday to Thursday: € 218.
  • Wedding ceremony Council House on Friday: € 282.
  • Wedding ceremony other official wedding location on Monday through Thursday: €422.
  • Wedding ceremony other official wedding location on Friday: €488.
  • Wedding ceremony on Saturday (all locations): €637.
  • Conversion of partnership to marriage at the counter: €50.
  • Bar wedding (Monday through Friday only): € 92.
  • Provision of witness from the municipality (per witness): € 45.
  • Wedding booklet ordinary: € 55.10
  • Wedding booklet deluxe: € 72,10
  • Cancellation of wedding ceremony: €100.

These prices also apply to a registered partnership. 

You can find more information about marriage, registered partnership and a cohabitation contract on the Rijksoverheid website.

Report your marriage or partnership online