same-sex marriage in the Netherlands

Same-sex marriage has been legal in the Netherlands since 1 April 2001.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gay-marriage-goes-dutch/|title=Gay Marriage Goes Dutch|publisher=CBS News|agency=Associated Press|access-date=6 March 2011|date=1 April 2001|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128181758/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gay-marriage-goes-dutch/|archive-date=28 January 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0104/01/sm.10.html|title=Same-Sex Marriage Legalized in Amsterdam|publisher=CNN|date=1 April 2001|access-date=4 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221411/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0104/01/sm.10.html|archive-date=3 March 2016}} A bill for the legalisation of same-sex marriage was passed in the House of Representatives by 109 votes to 33 on 12 September 2000 and by the Senate by 49 votes to 26 on 19 December 2000. The law received royal assent by Queen Beatrix on 21 December 2000 and took effect on 1 April 2001. The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. Polling suggests that a significant majority of Dutch people support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, special municipalities of the Netherlands, since 10 October 2012, and in the constituent countries of Aruba and Curaçao since 12 July 2024. The other constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Sint Maarten, does not perform or fully recognize same-sex marriages.

Unregistered partnerships

Unregistered partnerships or informal cohabitation ({{lang|nl|samenwonen}}) occur when a same-sex or opposite-sex couple cohabits but chooses to keep the legal status of their relationship unregistered or informal. This means all worldwide assets that belong to a single party remain the sole property of the party with no legal entitlement by the other party, whether owned before or acquired during the relationship. The couple can record a contract ({{lang|nl|samenlevingscontract}}) with a notary to receive some limited financial benefits, including for tax and pension purposes. However, the benefits are limited, e.g. the father or non-biological mother is not automatically recognized as a parent after the birth of a child, and upon the death of one of the partners, the other partner is not considered an heir.{{cite web|url=https://www.notaris.nl/samen-verder/samenwonen|title=Samenwonen|work=Notaris.nl|access-date=6 May 2020|language=nl|archive-date=21 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421045349/https://www.notaris.nl/samen-verder/samenwonen|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.juridischloket.nl/wonen-en-buren/samenwonen/samenlevingscontract/|title=Wat zet ik in een samenlevingscontract?|work=Het Juridisch Loket|access-date=6 May 2020|language=nl|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112013659/https://www.juridischloket.nl/wonen-en-buren/samenwonen/samenlevingscontract/|url-status=live}} This legal status of unregistered partnerships is respected by Dutch courts.{{cite web|url=https://same-sex.web.ined.fr/pdf/DocTrav125/05Doc125TheNetherlands.pdf |title=Major legal consequences of marriage, cohabitation and registered partnership for different-sex and same-sex partners in the Netherlands|first=Kees|last=Waaldijk|access-date=26 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303172043/https://same-sex.web.ined.fr/pdf/DocTrav125/05Doc125TheNetherlands.pdf|archive-date=3 March 2016}}

The Netherlands was one of the first countries in the world to recognise cohabiting same-sex couples by law. The first law recognising the cohabitation of same-sex couples was passed in 1979 for the purposes of rent law. Further legislation was passed in 1981 to recognise cohabiting couples for the purposes of inheritance tax.{{cite web|url=https://same-sex.web.ined.fr/pdf/DocTrav125/05Doc125TheNetherlands.pdf|title=Major legal consequences of marriage, cohabitation and registered partnership for different-sex and same-sex partners in the Netherlands|website=same-sex.web.ined.fr|author=Kees Waaldijk|access-date=9 August 2010|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303172043/https://same-sex.web.ined.fr/pdf/DocTrav125/05Doc125TheNetherlands.pdf|url-status=live}}

Registered partnerships

On 1 January 1998, registered partnerships ({{langx|nl|geregistreerd partnerschap}}, {{IPA|nl|ɣəreːɣɪˈstreːrt ˈpɑrtnərsxɑp|pron}}){{efn|name="other languages"|text={{langx|fy|registrearre partnerskip}}, {{IPA|fy|rɛːɣiˈstrjɛrə ˈpaːtnr̩skɪp|pron}};{{cite web|url=https://www.omropfryslan.nl/nijs/751957-registrearre-partnerskip-hieltyd-populerder-yn-fryslan|title=Registrearre partnerskip hieltyd populêrder yn Fryslân|work=Omrop Fryslân|date=25 August 2017|language=fy|access-date=17 February 2019|archive-date=18 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218021557/https://www.omropfryslan.nl/nijs/751957-registrearre-partnerskip-hieltyd-populerder-yn-fryslan|url-status=live}} {{langx|pap|union civil}}, {{IPA|pap|uˈnjon siˈvil|pron}};{{cite web|url=http://www.diario.aw/2016/08/amienda-pa-permiti-union-civil-casi-no-tin-deferencia-cu-matrimonio/|title=Amienda pa permiti Union Civil casi no tin deferencia cu matrimonio|work=Diario Aruba|date=16 August 2016|language=pap|access-date=17 February 2019|archive-date=2 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502213454/https://www.diario.aw/2016/08/amienda-pa-permiti-union-civil-casi-no-tin-deferencia-cu-matrimonio/|url-status=dead}} {{langx|li|gerezjistreerd partnersjap}}}} were introduced in Dutch law. The partnerships were meant for same-sex couples as an alternative to marriage, though they can also be entered into by opposite-sex couples, and in fact about one third of the registered partnerships between 1999 and 2001 were of opposite-sex couples.{{cite web |last1=Dunbar |first1=William |title=Equal marriage around the world |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/equal-marriage-around-the-world-8153205.html |website=The Independent |date=19 September 2012 |access-date=31 March 2020 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305013551/http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/equal-marriage-around-the-world-8153205.html |url-status=live }} In law, registered partnerships and marriage convey the same rights and duties, especially after some laws were changed to remedy inequalities with respect to inheritance and some other issues.

Partnerships have become particularly common among Dutch couples, with about 18,000 new partnerships registered every year.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2018-09-26|title=Trouwen of geregistreerd partnerschap? Dit is het verschil|url=https://www.ad.nl/wonen/trouwen-of-geregistreerd-partnerschap-dit-is-het-verschil~a4bb0d59/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410231742/https://www.ad.nl/wonen/trouwen-of-geregistreerd-partnerschap-dit-is-het-verschil~a4bb0d59/|archive-date=10 April 2019|access-date=2021-01-03|website=Algemeen Dagblad|language=nl}}

Same-sex marriage

=Legislative action=

As early as the mid 1980s, a group of gay rights activists, headed by Henk Krol – then editor-in-chief of the Gay Krant – asked the government to allow same-sex couples to marry. By 1995, about 100 municipalities had opened an alternative "marriage register", into which some 300 same-sex couples had inscribed. That year, the municipality of Rheden said that if government did not legalize same-sex marriage it would proceed with conducting same-sex weddings. Haarlem declared it would do the same or stop issuing marriage licenses altogether. The States General of the Netherlands decided in 1995 to create a special commission to investigate the possibility of recognizing same-sex marriages. At that time, the Christian Democratic Appeal was not part of the ruling coalition for the first time since the introduction of full democracy. The special commission finished its work in 1997 and concluded that civil marriage should be extended to include same-sex couples. After the 1998 general election, the Second Kok Cabinet promised to tackle the issue. In September 2000, the legislation was debated in the Dutch Parliament.

The marriage bill passed the House of Representatives by 109 votes to 33 on 12 September 2000.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/13/world/dutch-legislators-approve-full-marriage-rights-for-gays.html |title=Dutch Legislators Approve Full Marriage Rights for Gays |work= The New York Times|date=13 September 2000|access-date=26 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313023141/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/13/world/dutch-legislators-approve-full-marriage-rights-for-gays.html|archive-date=13 March 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/921505.stm |title=Netherlands legalizes gay marriage |publisher=BBC News |date=12 September 2000|access-date=26 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092219/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/921505.stm|archive-date=4 March 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/922024.stm |title=Dutch legalise gay marriage |publisher=BBC News |date=12 September 2000|access-date=26 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305162139/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/922024.stm|archive-date=5 March 2016}}

class="wikitable" \|+ 12 September 2000 vote in the House of Representatives{{cite web\|url=https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/h-tk-19992000-6468-6468.html\|title=Aan de orde zijn de stemmingen in verband met het wetsvoorstel Wijziging van Boek 1 van het Burgerlijk Wetboek in verband met de openstelling van het huwelijk voor personen van hetzelfde geslacht (Wet openstelling huwelijk) (26672).\|date=19 September 2000 \|language=nl\|access-date=31 January 2017\|archive-date=4 June 2018\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604004838/https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/h-tk-19992000-6468-6468.html\|url-status=live}}
Party	style="width:15%;"\| Voted for	style="width:15%;"\| Voted against	Absent (Did not vote)
{{Color box\|#e12b1a\|G\|border=silver}} Labour Party \| style="background:#cfc;"\| {{collapsible list \|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" \|title= 41 \|1= Nebahat Albayrak \|2= Khadija Arib \|3= Marleen Barth \|4= Judith Belinfante \|5= Jet Bussemaker \|6= Ferd Crone \|7= Margreeth de Boer \|8= Dick de Cloe \|9= Sharon Dijksma \|10= Jeroen Dijsselbloem \|11= Desirée Duijkers \|12= Adri Duivesteijn \|13= Jaap Jelle Feenstra \|14= Wouter Gortzak \|15= Mariëtte Hamer \|16= Willem Herrebrugh \|17= Rik Hindriks \|18= Bert Koenders \|19= Lucy Kortram \|20= Arie Kuijper \|21= Ad Melkert \|22= Bert Middel \|23= Hillie Molenaar \|24= Saskia Noorman-den Uyl \|25= Rob Oudkerk \|26= Peter Rehwinkel \|27= Usman Santi \|28= Gerrit Schoenmakers \|29= José Smits \|30= Laurette Spoelman \|31= Frans Timmermans \|32= Gerrit Valk \|33= Annet van der Hoek \|34= Rob van Gijzel \|35= Peter van Heemst \|36= Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven \|37= Jan van Zijl \|38= Harm Evert Waalkens \|39= Marja Wagenaar \|40= Tineke Witteveen-Hevinga \|41= Martin Zijlstra }} \| {{collapsible list \|title= 1 \|1= Thanasis Apostolou }} \| {{collapsible list \|title= 3 \|1= Ella Kalsbeek \|2= Willie Swildens-Rozendaal \|3= Gerritjan van Oven }}
{{Color box\|{{party color\|People's Party for Freedom and Democracy}}\|G\|border=silver}} People's Party for Freedom and Democracy \| style="background:#cfc;"\| {{collapsible list \|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" \|title= 36 \|1= Eric Balemans \|2= Jan Dirk Blaauw \|3= Stef Blok \|4= Sam Cherribi \|5= Clemens Cornielje \|6= Ton de Swart \|7= Bibi de Vries \|8= Hans Dijkstal \|9= Jan Geluk \|10= Enric Hessing \|11= Pieter Hofstra \|12= Henk Kamp \|13= Jan Hendrik Klein Molekamp \|14= Ruud Luchtenveld \|15= Els Meijer \|16= Atzo Nicolaï \|17= Jacques Niederer \|18= Gert-Jan Oplaat \|19= Fadime Örgü \|20= Wim Passtoors \|21= Patricia Remak \|22= Jan Rijpstra \|23= Janneke Snijder-Hazelhoff \|24= Jan te Veldhuis \|25= Thijs Udo \|26= Hans van Baalen \|27= Willibrord van Beek \|28= Anke van Blerck-Woerdman \|29= Theo van den Doel \|30= Marijke van Lente \|31= Nellie Verbugt \|32= Otto Vos \|33= Hella Voûte-Droste \|34= Frans Weekers \|35= Frans Weisglas \|36= Geert Wilders }} \| – \|{{collapsible list \|title= 2 \|1= Michiel Patijn \|2= Erica Terpstra }}
{{Color box\|{{party color\|Christian Democratic Appeal}}\|border=silver}} Christian Democratic Appeal \| {{collapsible list \|title= 3 \|1= Nancy Dankers \|2= Gerda Verburg \|3= Joop Wijn }} \| style="background:#ffaeb9;"\| {{collapsible list \|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" \|title= 24 \|1= Jan Peter Balkenende \|2= Pieter Jan Biesheuvel \|3= Ank Bijleveld-Schouten \|4= Siem Buijs \|5= Henk de Haan \|6= Jaap de Hoop Scheffer \|7= Camiel Eurlings \|8= Hans Hillen \|9= Gerd Leers \|10= Theo Meijer \|11= Aart Mosterd \|12= Jakob Reitsma \|13= Theo Rietkerk \|14= Clémence Ross-van Dorp \|15= Annie Schreijer-Pierik \|16= Theo Stroeken \|17= Agnes van Ardenne-van der Hoeven \|18= Wim van de Camp \|19= Hans van den Akker \|20= Maria van der Hoeven \|21= Cees van der Knaap \|22= Peter van Wijmen \|23= Maxime Verhagen \|24= Marry Visser-van Doorn }} \|{{collapsible list \|title= 2 \|1= Joop Atsma \|2= Klaasje Eisses-Timmerman }}
{{Color box\|{{party color\|Democrats 66}}\|G\|border=silver}} Democrats 66 \| style="background:#cfc;"\| {{collapsible list \|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" \|title= 14 \|1= Marijke Augusteijn-Esser \|2= Bert Bakker \|3= Thom de Graaf \|4= Boris Dittrich \|5= Francine Giskes \|6= Jan Hoekema \|7= Ursie Lambrechts \|8= Francisca Ravestein \|9= Olga Scheltema-de Nie \|10= Arthie Schimmel \|11= Pieter ter Veer \|12= Nicky van 't Riet \|13= Stefanie van Vliet \|14= Jan van Walsem }} \| – \| –
{{Color box\|#66A344\|border=silver}} GroenLinks \| style="background:#cfc;"\| {{collapsible list \|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" \|title= 10 \|1= Femke Halsema \|2= Ab Harrewijn \|3= Corrie Hermann \|4= Farah Karimi \|5= Mohamed Rabbae \|6= Paul Rosenmöller \|7= Hugo van der Steenhoven \|8= Ineke van Gent \|9= Kees Vendrik \|10= Marijke Vos }} \| – \|{{collapsible list \|title= 1 \|1= Tara Singh Varma }}
{{Color box\|#E60000\|border=silver}} Socialist Party \| style="background:#cfc;"\| {{collapsible list \|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" \|title= 5 \|1= Jan de Wit \|2= Agnes Kant \|3= Jan Marijnissen \|4= Remi Poppe \|5= Harry van Bommel }} \| – \| –
{{Color box\|{{party color\|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}\|border=silver}} Christian Union \| – \| style="background:#ffaeb9;"\| {{collapsible list \|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" \|title= 5 \|1= André Rouvoet{{efn\|name="rpf"\|Was originally a member of the Reformatory Political Federation (RPF).}} \|2= Gert Schutte{{efn\|name="gpv"\|Was originally a member of the Reformed Political League (GPV).}} \|3= Dick Stellingwerf{{efn\|name="rpf"}} \|4= Leen van Dijke{{efn\|name="rpf"}} \|5= Eimert van Middelkoop{{efn\|name="gpv"}} }} \| –
{{Color box\|{{party color\|Reformed Political Party}}\|border=silver}} Reformed Political Party \| – \| style="background:#ffaeb9;"\| {{collapsible list \|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" \|title= 3 \|1= Koos van den Berg \|2= Kees van der Staaij \|3= Bas van der Vlies }} \| –
style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" \| Total	{{Yes\|109\|align=center}}	style="text-align:center;" \| 33	style="text-align:center;" \| 8
style="text-align:center;" \| {{percentage\|109\|150\|1}} \| style="text-align:center;" \| {{percentage\|33\|150\|1\|pad=yes}} \| style="text-align:center;" \| {{percentage\|8\|150\|1}}

class="wikitable"

|+ 12 September 2000 vote in the House of Representatives{{cite web|url=https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/h-tk-19992000-6468-6468.html|title=Aan de orde zijn de stemmingen in verband met het wetsvoorstel Wijziging van Boek 1 van het Burgerlijk Wetboek in verband met de openstelling van het huwelijk voor personen van hetzelfde geslacht (Wet openstelling huwelijk) (26672).|date=19 September 2000 |language=nl|access-date=31 January 2017|archive-date=4 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604004838/https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/h-tk-19992000-6468-6468.html|url-status=live}}

Party

style="width:15%;"| Voted for

style="width:15%;"| Voted against

Absent (Did not vote)

{{Color box|#e12b1a|G|border=silver}} Labour Party

| style="background:#cfc;"| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 41

|1= Nebahat Albayrak

|2= Khadija Arib

|3= Marleen Barth

|4= Judith Belinfante

|5= Jet Bussemaker

|6= Ferd Crone

|7= Margreeth de Boer

|8= Dick de Cloe

|9= Sharon Dijksma

|10= Jeroen Dijsselbloem

|11= Desirée Duijkers

|12= Adri Duivesteijn

|13= Jaap Jelle Feenstra

|14= Wouter Gortzak

|15= Mariëtte Hamer

|16= Willem Herrebrugh

|17= Rik Hindriks

|18= Bert Koenders

|19= Lucy Kortram

|20= Arie Kuijper

|21= Ad Melkert

|22= Bert Middel

|23= Hillie Molenaar

|24= Saskia Noorman-den Uyl

|25= Rob Oudkerk

|26= Peter Rehwinkel

|27= Usman Santi

|28= Gerrit Schoenmakers

|29= José Smits

|30= Laurette Spoelman

|31= Frans Timmermans

|32= Gerrit Valk

|33= Annet van der Hoek

|34= Rob van Gijzel

|35= Peter van Heemst

|36= Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven

|37= Jan van Zijl

|38= Harm Evert Waalkens

|39= Marja Wagenaar

|40= Tineke Witteveen-Hevinga

|41= Martin Zijlstra

}}

| {{collapsible list |title= 1

|1= Thanasis Apostolou

}}

| {{collapsible list |title= 3

|1= Ella Kalsbeek

|2= Willie Swildens-Rozendaal

|3= Gerritjan van Oven

}}

{{Color box|{{party color|People's Party for Freedom and Democracy}}|G|border=silver}} People's Party for Freedom and Democracy

| style="background:#cfc;"| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 36

|1= Eric Balemans

|2= Jan Dirk Blaauw

|3= Stef Blok

|4= Sam Cherribi

|5= Clemens Cornielje

|6= Ton de Swart

|7= Bibi de Vries

|8= Hans Dijkstal

|9= Jan Geluk

|10= Enric Hessing

|11= Pieter Hofstra

|12= Henk Kamp

|13= Jan Hendrik Klein Molekamp

|14= Ruud Luchtenveld

|15= Els Meijer

|16= Atzo Nicolaï

|17= Jacques Niederer

|18= Gert-Jan Oplaat

|19= Fadime Örgü

|20= Wim Passtoors

|21= Patricia Remak

|22= Jan Rijpstra

|23= Janneke Snijder-Hazelhoff

|24= Jan te Veldhuis

|25= Thijs Udo

|26= Hans van Baalen

|27= Willibrord van Beek

|28= Anke van Blerck-Woerdman

|29= Theo van den Doel

|30= Marijke van Lente

|31= Nellie Verbugt

|32= Otto Vos

|33= Hella Voûte-Droste

|34= Frans Weekers

|35= Frans Weisglas

|36= Geert Wilders

}}

| –

|{{collapsible list |title= 2

|1= Michiel Patijn

|2= Erica Terpstra

}}

{{Color box|{{party color|Christian Democratic Appeal}}|border=silver}} Christian Democratic Appeal

| {{collapsible list |title= 3

|1= Nancy Dankers

|2= Gerda Verburg

|3= Joop Wijn

}}

| style="background:#ffaeb9;"| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 24

|1= Jan Peter Balkenende

|2= Pieter Jan Biesheuvel

|3= Ank Bijleveld-Schouten

|4= Siem Buijs

|5= Henk de Haan

|6= Jaap de Hoop Scheffer

|7= Camiel Eurlings

|8= Hans Hillen

|9= Gerd Leers

|10= Theo Meijer

|11= Aart Mosterd

|12= Jakob Reitsma

|13= Theo Rietkerk

|14= Clémence Ross-van Dorp

|15= Annie Schreijer-Pierik

|16= Theo Stroeken

|17= Agnes van Ardenne-van der Hoeven

|18= Wim van de Camp

|19= Hans van den Akker

|20= Maria van der Hoeven

|21= Cees van der Knaap

|22= Peter van Wijmen

|23= Maxime Verhagen

|24= Marry Visser-van Doorn

}}

|{{collapsible list |title= 2

|1= Joop Atsma

|2= Klaasje Eisses-Timmerman

}}

{{Color box|{{party color|Democrats 66}}|G|border=silver}} Democrats 66

| style="background:#cfc;"| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 14

|1= Marijke Augusteijn-Esser

|2= Bert Bakker

|3= Thom de Graaf

|4= Boris Dittrich

|5= Francine Giskes

|6= Jan Hoekema

|7= Ursie Lambrechts

|8= Francisca Ravestein

|9= Olga Scheltema-de Nie

|10= Arthie Schimmel

|11= Pieter ter Veer

|12= Nicky van 't Riet

|13= Stefanie van Vliet

|14= Jan van Walsem

}}

| –

{{Color box|#66A344|border=silver}} GroenLinks

| style="background:#cfc;"| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 10

|1= Femke Halsema

|2= Ab Harrewijn

|3= Corrie Hermann

|4= Farah Karimi

|5= Mohamed Rabbae

|6= Paul Rosenmöller

|7= Hugo van der Steenhoven

|8= Ineke van Gent

|9= Kees Vendrik

|10= Marijke Vos

}}

| –

|{{collapsible list |title= 1

|1= Tara Singh Varma

}}

{{Color box|#E60000|border=silver}} Socialist Party

| style="background:#cfc;"| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 5

|1= Jan de Wit

|2= Agnes Kant

|3= Jan Marijnissen

|4= Remi Poppe

|5= Harry van Bommel

}}

| –

{{Color box|{{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}|border=silver}} Christian Union

| –

| style="background:#ffaeb9;"| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 5

|1= André Rouvoet{{efn|name="rpf"|Was originally a member of the Reformatory Political Federation (RPF).}}

|2= Gert Schutte{{efn|name="gpv"|Was originally a member of the Reformed Political League (GPV).}}

|3= Dick Stellingwerf{{efn|name="rpf"}}

|4= Leen van Dijke{{efn|name="rpf"}}

|5= Eimert van Middelkoop{{efn|name="gpv"}}

}}

| –

{{Color box|{{party color|Reformed Political Party}}|border=silver}} Reformed Political Party

| –

| style="background:#ffaeb9;"| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 3

|1= Koos van den Berg

|2= Kees van der Staaij

|3= Bas van der Vlies

}}

| –

style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" | Total

style="text-align:center;" | 33

style="text-align:center;" | 8

style="text-align:center;" | {{percentage|109|150|1}}

| style="text-align:center;" | {{percentage|33|150|1|pad=yes}}

| style="text-align:center;" | {{percentage|8|150|1}}

The Senate approved the bill on 19 December 2000 by 49 to 26 votes.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/20/world/same-sex-dutch-couples-gain-marriage-and-adoption-rights.html |title=Same-Sex Dutch Couples Gain Marriage and Adoption Rights |work=The New York Times|date=20 December 2000|access-date=26 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075611/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/20/world/same-sex-dutch-couples-gain-marriage-and-adoption-rights.html|archive-date=4 March 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1078821.stm |title=Dutch gays allowed to marry|publisher=BBC News|date=19 December 2000|access-date=26 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304124328/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1078821.stm|archive-date=4 March 2016}} Only the Christian parties, which held 26 of the 75 seats at the time, voted against the bill. Although the Christian Democratic Appeal would form the next government, they did not indicate any intention to repeal the law.

class="wikitable" \|+ 19 December 2000 vote in the Senate{{cite web\|url=https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/behandelddossier/26672/h-ek-20002001-687-687-1?resultIndex=33&sorttype=1&sortorder=8\|title=Aan de orde is de stemming over het wetsvoorstel Wijziging van Boek 1 van het Burgerlijk Wetboek in verband met de openstelling van het huwelijk voor personen van hetzelfde geslacht (Wet openstelling huwelijk) (26672).\|language=nl\|access-date=1 February 2017\|archive-date=4 June 2018\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604004824/https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/behandelddossier/26672/h-ek-20002001-687-687-1?resultIndex=33&sorttype=1&sortorder=8\|url-status=live}}
Party	style="width:15%;"\| Voted for	style="width:15%;"\| Voted against	Absent (Did not vote)
{{Color box\|{{party color\|Christian Democratic Appeal}}\|border=silver}} Christian Democratic Appeal \| – \| style="background:#ffaeb9;"\| {{collapsible list \|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" \|title= 20 \|1= Joeke Baarda \|2= Marie-Louise Bemelmans-Videc \|3= Peter Boorsma \|4= Gerrit Braks \|5= Alfons Dölle \|6= Huib Eversdijk \|7= Henk Hofstede \|8= Wolter Lemstra \|9= Tineke Lodders-Elfferich \|10= Jan Pastoor \|11= Willem Stevens \|12= Yvonne Timmerman-Buck \|13= Rob van de Beeten \|14= Jannie van den Hul-Omta \|15= René van der Linden \|16= Jos van Gennip \|17= Hannie van Leeuwen \|18= Kobus Walsma \|19= Jos Werner \|20= Henk Woldring }} \| –
{{Color box\|{{party color\|People's Party for Freedom and Democracy}}\|G\|border=silver}} People's Party for Freedom and Democracy \| style="background:#cfc;"\| {{collapsible list \|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" \|title= 19 \|1= Fransje Roscam Abbing-Bos \|2= Frits Korthals Altes \|3= Pol de Beer \|4= Cobi de Blécourt-Maas \|5= Ad de Jager \|6= Dick Dees \|7= Heleen Dupuis \|8= Leendert Ginjaar \|9= Niek Ketting \|10= Liesbeth Kneppers-Heynert \|11= Paul Luijten \|12= Jaap Rensema \|13= Uri Rosenthal \|14= Paul Swenker \|15= Marbeth Bierman-Beukema toe Water \|16= Nicoline van den Broek-Laman Trip \|17= Wim van Eekelen \|18= Jan van Heukelum \|19= Marius Varekamp }} \| – \| –
{{Color box\|#e12b1a\|G\|border=silver}} Labour Party \| style="background:#cfc;"\| {{collapsible list \|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" \|title= 15 \|1= Geertje Lycklama à Nijeholt \|2= Frits Castricum \|3= Ton Doesburg \|4= Ria Jaarsma \|5= Erik Jurgens \|6= Fré le Poole \|7= Margriet Meindertsma \|8= Ruby Rabbinge \|9= Johan Stekelenburg \|10= Ing Yoe Tan \|11= Elske ter Veld \|12= Ed van Thijn \|13= Willem Witteveen \|14= Dik Wolfson \|15= Thijs Wöltgens }} \| – \| –
{{Color box\|#66A344\|border=silver}} GroenLinks \| style="background:#cfc;"\| {{collapsible list \|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" \|title= 8 \|1= Wim de Boer \|2= Diana de Wolff \|3= Tom Pitstra \|4= Leo Platvoet \|5= Cobi Schoondergang-Horikx \|6= Jos van der Lans \|7= Bob van Schijndel \|8= Ans Zwerver }} \| – \| –
{{Color box\|{{party color\|Democrats 66}}\|G\|border=silver}} Democrats 66 \| style="background:#cfc;"\| {{collapsible list \|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" \|title= 4 \|1= Ruud Hessing \|2= Jacob Kohnstamm \|3= Eddy Schuyer \|4= Jan Terlouw }} \| – \| –
{{Color box\|{{party color\|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}\|border=silver}} Christian Union \| – \| style="background:#ffaeb9;"\| {{collapsible list \|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" \|title= 4 \|1= Jurn de Vries{{efn\|name="gpv"}} \|2= Egbert Schuurman{{efn\|name="rpf"}} \|3= Cees van Bruchem{{efn\|name="rpf"}} \|4= Kars Veling{{efn\|name="gpv"}} }} \| –
{{Color box\|#E60000\|border=silver}} Socialist Party \| style="background:#cfc;"\| {{collapsible list \|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" \|title= 2 \|1= Bob Ruers \|2= Driek van Vugt }} \| – \| –
{{Color box\|{{party color\|Reformed Political Party}}\|border=silver}} Reformed Political Party \| – \| style="background:#ffaeb9;"\| {{collapsible list \|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" \|title= 2 \|1= Gerrit Holdijk \|2= Gert van den Berg }} \| –
{{Color box\|red\|border=silver}} Independent Senate Group \| style="background:#cfc;"\| {{collapsible list \|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" \|title= 1 \|1= Marten Bierman }} \| – \| –
style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" \| Total	{{Yes\|49\|align=center}}	style="text-align:center;" \| 26	style="text-align:center;" \| 0
style="text-align:center;" \| {{percentage\|49\|75\|1}} \| style="text-align:center;" \| {{percentage\|26\|75\|1}} \| style="text-align:center;" \| {{percentage\|0\|75\|1\|pad=yes}}

class="wikitable"

|+ 19 December 2000 vote in the Senate{{cite web|url=https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/behandelddossier/26672/h-ek-20002001-687-687-1?resultIndex=33&sorttype=1&sortorder=8|title=Aan de orde is de stemming over het wetsvoorstel Wijziging van Boek 1 van het Burgerlijk Wetboek in verband met de openstelling van het huwelijk voor personen van hetzelfde geslacht (Wet openstelling huwelijk) (26672).|language=nl|access-date=1 February 2017|archive-date=4 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604004824/https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/behandelddossier/26672/h-ek-20002001-687-687-1?resultIndex=33&sorttype=1&sortorder=8|url-status=live}}

Party

style="width:15%;"| Voted for

style="width:15%;"| Voted against

Absent (Did not vote)

{{Color box|{{party color|Christian Democratic Appeal}}|border=silver}} Christian Democratic Appeal

| –

| style="background:#ffaeb9;"| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 20

|1= Joeke Baarda

|2= Marie-Louise Bemelmans-Videc

|3= Peter Boorsma

|4= Gerrit Braks

|5= Alfons Dölle

|6= Huib Eversdijk

|7= Henk Hofstede

|8= Wolter Lemstra

|9= Tineke Lodders-Elfferich

|10= Jan Pastoor

|11= Willem Stevens

|12= Yvonne Timmerman-Buck

|13= Rob van de Beeten

|14= Jannie van den Hul-Omta

|15= René van der Linden

|16= Jos van Gennip

|17= Hannie van Leeuwen

|18= Kobus Walsma

|19= Jos Werner

|20= Henk Woldring

}}

| –

{{Color box|{{party color|People's Party for Freedom and Democracy}}|G|border=silver}} People's Party for Freedom and Democracy

| style="background:#cfc;"| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 19

|1= Fransje Roscam Abbing-Bos

|2= Frits Korthals Altes

|3= Pol de Beer

|4= Cobi de Blécourt-Maas

|5= Ad de Jager

|6= Dick Dees

|7= Heleen Dupuis

|8= Leendert Ginjaar

|9= Niek Ketting

|10= Liesbeth Kneppers-Heynert

|11= Paul Luijten

|12= Jaap Rensema

|13= Uri Rosenthal

|14= Paul Swenker

|15= Marbeth Bierman-Beukema toe Water

|16= Nicoline van den Broek-Laman Trip

|17= Wim van Eekelen

|18= Jan van Heukelum

|19= Marius Varekamp

}}

| –

{{Color box|#e12b1a|G|border=silver}} Labour Party

| style="background:#cfc;"| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 15

|1= Geertje Lycklama à Nijeholt

|2= Frits Castricum

|3= Ton Doesburg

|4= Ria Jaarsma

|5= Erik Jurgens

|6= Fré le Poole

|7= Margriet Meindertsma

|8= Ruby Rabbinge

|9= Johan Stekelenburg

|10= Ing Yoe Tan

|11= Elske ter Veld

|12= Ed van Thijn

|13= Willem Witteveen

|14= Dik Wolfson

|15= Thijs Wöltgens

}}

| –

{{Color box|#66A344|border=silver}} GroenLinks

| style="background:#cfc;"| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 8

|1= Wim de Boer

|2= Diana de Wolff

|3= Tom Pitstra

|4= Leo Platvoet

|5= Cobi Schoondergang-Horikx

|6= Jos van der Lans

|7= Bob van Schijndel

|8= Ans Zwerver

}}

| –

{{Color box|{{party color|Democrats 66}}|G|border=silver}} Democrats 66

| style="background:#cfc;"| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 4

|1= Ruud Hessing

|2= Jacob Kohnstamm

|3= Eddy Schuyer

|4= Jan Terlouw

}}

| –

{{Color box|{{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}|border=silver}} Christian Union

| –

| style="background:#ffaeb9;"| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 4

|1= Jurn de Vries{{efn|name="gpv"}}

|2= Egbert Schuurman{{efn|name="rpf"}}

|3= Cees van Bruchem{{efn|name="rpf"}}

|4= Kars Veling{{efn|name="gpv"}}

}}

| –

{{Color box|#E60000|border=silver}} Socialist Party

| style="background:#cfc;"| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 2

|1= Bob Ruers

|2= Driek van Vugt

}}

| –

{{Color box|{{party color|Reformed Political Party}}|border=silver}} Reformed Political Party

| –

| style="background:#ffaeb9;"| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 2

|1= Gerrit Holdijk

|2= Gert van den Berg

}}

| –

{{Color box|red|border=silver}} Independent Senate Group

| style="background:#cfc;"| {{collapsible list |style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |title= 1

|1= Marten Bierman

}}

| –

style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" | Total

style="text-align:center;" | 26

style="text-align:center;" | 0

style="text-align:center;" | {{percentage|49|75|1}}

| style="text-align:center;" | {{percentage|26|75|1}}

| style="text-align:center;" | {{percentage|0|75|1|pad=yes}}

Queen Beatrix gave her royal assent to the legislation on 21 December 2000.{{cite web|url=https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0012099/2001-04-01|title=Wet openstelling huwelijk|work=Overheid.nl|language=nl|access-date=2 April 2021|archive-date=29 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429080039/https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0012099/2001-04-01|url-status=live}} The main article of the law changed article 1:30 of the Civil Code to read as follows:

:{{lang|nl|Een huwelijk kan worden aangegaan door twee personen van verschillend of van gelijk geslacht.}}

:(A marriage can be entered into by two persons of different or the same sex)

The law came into effect on 1 April 2001, and on that day four same-sex couples were married by the Mayor of Amsterdam, Job Cohen,{{cite news|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_world_story_skin/34978|title=World's first legal gay weddings|publisher=Television New Zealand|date=1 April 2001|access-date=8 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205115951/http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_world_story_skin/34978|archive-date=5 February 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1253754.stm |title=Dutch gay couples exchange vows|publisher=BBC News|date=1 April 2001|access-date=26 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305025731/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1253754.stm|archive-date=5 March 2016}} who became a registrar specifically to officiate at the weddings. A few months earlier, Mayor Cohen had been junior Minister of Justice of the Netherlands and was responsible for putting the new marriage and adoption laws through Parliament.

In Dutch, same-sex marriage is known as {{lang|nl|huwelijk tussen personen van gelijk geslacht}} or more commonly as {{lang|nl|homohuwelijk}} ({{IPA|nl|ˈɦoːmoːˌɦyʋələk|pron}}).{{cite web|url=http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/trouwen-samenlevingscontract-en-geregistreerd-partnerschap/trouwen-en-geregistreerd-partnerschap/huwelijk-tussen-personen-van-hetzelfde-geslacht|title=Huwelijk tussen personen van gelijk geslacht|publisher=Government of the Netherlands|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724164631/http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/trouwen-samenlevingscontract-en-geregistreerd-partnerschap/trouwen-en-geregistreerd-partnerschap/huwelijk-tussen-personen-van-hetzelfde-geslacht|archive-date=24 July 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://nos.nl/artikel/214858-frans-homohuwelijk-blijft-verboden.html|title=Frans homohuwelijk blijft verboden|publisher=Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|language=nl|access-date=6 March 2011|date=18 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017162431/http://nos.nl/artikel/214858-frans-homohuwelijk-blijft-verboden.html|archive-date=17 October 2015}}

=Requirements and rights=

Dutch law requires that either partner have Dutch nationality or have residency in the Netherlands. The marriageable age in the Netherlands is 18. The law is only valid in the European territory of the Netherlands and on the Caribbean islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, but does not apply to the other constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.{{cite web|url=https://www.expatica.com/nl/living/love/getting-married-in-the-netherlands-100684/|title=Getting married in the Netherlands|work=Expatica|access-date=27 June 2022|archive-date=27 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627094002/https://www.expatica.com/nl/living/love/getting-married-in-the-netherlands-100684/|url-status=live}}

The single legal difference between same-sex marriages and heterosexual marriages was that, in the former case, parentage by both partners was not automatic. The legal mother of a child is its biological mother (article 1:198 of the civil law) and the father is (in principle) the man she is married to or in a registered partnership with when the child is born. Moreover, the father must be a man (article 1:199). The other partner could thus become a legal mother only through adoption. Only in the case when a biological father did not become a parent (e.g. in case of artificial insemination by lesbian couples) would both female spouses obtain parental authority automatically (article 1:253sa). In December 2013, the Dutch Parliament changed this and allowed automatic parenthood for lesbian couples. The new law, which came into effect on 1 April 2014, allows the co-mother who is married to or in a registered partnership with the biological mother to be automatically recognized as a legal mother if the sperm donor was initially anonymous. In the case of a known donor, the biological mother decides whether the donor or the co-mother is the child's second legal parent.{{cite web|url=http://www.ru.nl/english/research/radboud/top-research-areas/business-law/more-info/new-law-lesbian-parenthood-transgender-individuals/ |title=New law on lesbian parenthood and transgender individuals |publisher=Ru.nl |access-date=2017-04-01}}{{cite news|url=http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/nieuws/2014/04/01/teeven-bij-ceremonie-lesbisch-ouderschap.html|title=Wet lesbisch ouderschap treedt in werking|date=1 April 2014|language=nl|publisher=Government of the Netherlands|access-date=5 November 2015|archive-date=14 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514094001/http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/nieuws/2014/04/01/teeven-bij-ceremonie-lesbisch-ouderschap.html|url-status=live}}

On 6 April 2016, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bert Koenders and Minister of Security and Justice Ard van der Steur confirmed the Dutch position that, like other couples, same-sex couples who are not Dutch residents or nationals cannot marry in the country. The ministers argued that it might lead to "practical and legal problems" and could even be "dangerous" to some participants. The move came after the Liberal Democratic Party had asked the ministers to look into allowing non-resident foreigners to take advantage of the Netherlands' same-sex marriage law.{{cite web |url=http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2016/04/88329-2/ |title=Dutch gay marriage rights restricted to locals, wedding tourism ruled out |publisher=Dutch News |date=6 April 2016 |access-date=5 May 2016 |archive-date=14 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214000307/http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2016/04/88329-2/ |url-status=live }}

=Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten=

[[File:Same-sex_marriage_map_Netherlands.svg|thumb|right|250px|

{{Legend|#ACF|Limited recognition}}]]

Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten have separate civil codes from the Netherlands proper,{{cite web |date=2006-08-31 |title=Burgerlijk wetboek van de Nederlandse Antillen, boek 1 |url=http://decentrale.regelgeving.overheid.nl/cvdr/XHTMLoutput/Historie/Nederlandse%20Antillen/2252/2252_1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427104907/http://decentrale.regelgeving.overheid.nl/cvdr/xhtmloutput/Historie/Nederlandse%20Antillen/2252/2252_1.html |archive-date=27 April 2017 |access-date=12 December 2010 |publisher=Government of the Netherlands |language=nl}} and thus same-sex marriage was not automatically legalised in these constituent countries by the 2001 law. It only became possible to perform same-sex marriages in Aruba and Curaçao on 12 July 2024 in accordance with a Supreme Court ruling. This makes Sint Maarten the only constituent country where same-sex marriages cannot be performed, though Dutch marriages are recognized there to some degree.

On 12 July 2024, the Supreme Court of the Netherlands upheld a lower court ruling that the same-sex marriage bans in Aruba and Curaçao were discriminatory, effectively legalising same-sex marriages in those two constituent countries.{{cite web|url=https://nltimes.nl/2024/07/12/supreme-court-rules-sex-marriage-now-permitted-aruba-curacao|title=Supreme Court rules that same-sex marriage is now permitted in Aruba and Curaçao|work=NL Times|date=12 July 2024}} Additionally, all territories of the Kingdom of the Netherlands register same-sex marriages performed in the Netherlands proper as a result of a Supreme Court ruling. In 2007, the Supreme Court ruled that all vital records recorded in the Kingdom of the Netherlands are valid throughout the Kingdom; this was based on its interpretation of the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. However, subsequent rulings have established that same-sex marriages are not automatically entitled to the same privileges (e.g. social security) extended to married couples of the opposite sex.{{cite web|title=hoger beroep zaak BM9524|url=http://jure.nl/bm9524|publisher=Jure.nl|access-date=18 December 2010|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032329/http://jure.nl/bm9524|archive-date=4 March 2016}}{{cite web|title=hoger beroep zaak BL1992|url=http://jure.nl/bl1992|access-date=18 December 2010|publisher=Jure.nl|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023101/http://jure.nl/bl1992|archive-date=4 March 2016}}{{cite web|title=hoger beroep zaak BI9335|url=http://jure.nl/bi9335|publisher=Jure.nl|access-date=18 December 2010|language=nl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105104851/http://jure.nl/bi9335|archive-date=5 January 2016}}

Aruba has also recognised registered partnerships offering several of the rights and benefits of marriage for same-sex and opposite-sex couples since September 2021.{{cite web|url=http://caribischnetwerk.ntr.nl/2016/09/08/parlement-neemt-amendement-geregistreerd-partnerschap-aan/|title=Parlement neemt amendement geregistreerd partnerschap aan|work=Caribisch Netwerk|language=nl|date=8 September 2016|access-date=6 June 2018|archive-date=3 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803194724/https://caribischnetwerk.ntr.nl/2016/09/08/parlement-neemt-amendement-geregistreerd-partnerschap-aan/|url-status=live}} Curaçao and Sint Maarten do not perform registered partnerships.

=Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba=

Same-sex marriage became legal in the Caribbean Netherlands—Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba—following the entry into force of a law enabling same-sex couples to marry on 10 October 2012.{{cite web|url=http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0028743/2012-10-10|title=Burgerlijk wetboek BES, boek 1|publisher=Government of the Netherlands|access-date=12 October 2012|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404050830/http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0028743/2012-10-10|archive-date=4 April 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0028129/2010-10-11/1|publisher=Government of the Netherlands| title=Aanpassingswet openbare lichamen Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba|date=1 September 2010|access-date=4 April 2016|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306025028/http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0028129/2010-10-11/1|archive-date=6 March 2016}}

=Opposition=

In 2007, controversy arose when the new Fourth Balkenende Cabinet announced in its policy statement that officials who object to same-sex marriage on principle may refuse to marry such couples.{{cite web|url=http://frontpage.fok.nl/nieuws/207163/1/1/50/ambtenaren-kunnen-homo-huwelijk-weigeren.html|title=Ambtenaren kunnen homo-huwelijk weigeren|work=FOK!|language=nl|date=2 March 2007|access-date=4 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180324/http://frontpage.fok.nl/nieuws/207163/1/1/50/ambtenaren-kunnen-homo-huwelijk-weigeren.html|archive-date=3 March 2016}} Some Labour and GroenLinks dominated municipal councils opposed this policy, claiming that the job of a registrar is to marry all couples, not only opposite-sex couples.{{cite news|url=http://www.ad.nl/rotterdam/hoeksewaard/article1187841.ece|title=PvdA en GroenLinks: ambtenaren mogen homohuwelijk niet weigeren|date=17 March 2007|work=Algemeen Dagblad|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930033354/http://www.ad.nl/rotterdam/hoeksewaard/article1187841.ece|archive-date=30 September 2007|access-date=17 October 2009|language=nl}} The opposition parties stated that if a registrar opposed same-sex marriages, they should not hold that post.{{cite web|url=http://www.elsevier.nl/Algemeen/blogs/2007/2/Alle-ambtenaren-moeten-homos-trouwen-ELSEVIER112271W/|title=Alle ambtenaren moeten homo's trouwen|work=Elsevier|language=nl|date=15 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206133040/http://www.elsevier.nl/Algemeen/blogs/2007/2/Alle-ambtenaren-moeten-homos-trouwen-ELSEVIER112271W/|archive-date=6 February 2016}} The municipality of Amsterdam announced that they would not comply with this policy, and that registrars there would still be obliged to marry same-sex couples. In reaction to this, many other municipalities announced their rejection of this proposal as well. The cabinet claimed that this issue lay solely within the remit of the central government. In practice, municipalities could decide whether or not to hire registrars who object to marrying same-sex couples.{{cite web|url=http://www.elsevier.nl/Nederland/nieuws/2007/2/Amsterdam-wil-sluiten-homohuwelijk-verplichten-ELSEVIER111984W/|title=Amsterdam wil sluiten homohuwelijk verplichten|work=Elsevier|language=nl|date=13 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309025101/http://www.elsevier.nl/Nederland/nieuws/2007/2/Amsterdam-wil-sluiten-homohuwelijk-verplichten-ELSEVIER111984W/|archive-date=9 March 2016}}

Before 2014, civil servants could refuse to marry same-sex couples as long as the municipality ensured that other civil servants were available to solemnize the marriage. In 2014, a law was passed that made it illegal for all marriage officiants to refuse their services to same-sex couples.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eerstekamer.nl/wetsvoorstel/33344_initiatiefvoorstel_pia|title=Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal - Initiatiefvoorstel-Pia Dijkstra en Schouw Gewetensbezwaren ambtenaren van de burgerlijke stand (33.344)|website=www.eerstekamer.nl|access-date=29 May 2020|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327102626/https://www.eerstekamer.nl/wetsvoorstel/33344_initiatiefvoorstel_pia|url-status=live}}

=Royal same-sex weddings=

In October 2021, Prime Minister Mark Rutte confirmed that members of the Dutch royal family may enter into a same-sex marriage without having to forfeit the crown or lose their royal title and privileges or their place in the line of succession. Previously, the government had held that if an heir wanted to marry a partner of the same sex, they would have to forfeit their right to the throne.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/10/12/dutch-royal-family-same-sex-marriage/|title=Dutch royals can marry same-sex partner and keep throne, prime minister says|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=13 October 2021|access-date=14 October 2021|archive-date=12 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012225627/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/10/12/dutch-royal-family-same-sex-marriage/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/13/europe/royal-same-sex-marriage-netherlands-intl-scli/index.html|title=Same-sex marriage isn't a bar to the Dutch throne, Prime Minister says|work=CNN|date=13 October 2021|access-date=14 October 2021|archive-date=14 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014063546/https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/13/europe/royal-same-sex-marriage-netherlands-intl-scli/index.html|url-status=live}}

=Impact=

A 2021 study by economists Shuai Chen and Jan van Ours showed that from 2001 onwards levels of anxiety and depression fell drastically among individuals in same-sex relationships and largely converged to those of heterosexuals. Chen and van Ours found that the legalisation of same-sex marriage, as well as supportive societal attitudes, significantly improved the mental health of LGBT people. They concluded, "We find a significant improvement in the mental health of sexual minorities following the legislation. We also find that marriage itself was only partially responsible for the amelioration of mental health among sexual minorities. More importantly, the legal recognition of same-sex marriage improved mental health for both male and female sexual minorities irrespective of their own marital status."{{cite web|url=https://voxeu.org/article/mental-health-effects-same-sex-marriage-legalisation|title=In sickness and in health: The mental health effects of same-sex marriage legalisation|website=VoxEU|date=24 July 2021|access-date=3 August 2021|archive-date=3 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803114506/https://voxeu.org/article/mental-health-effects-same-sex-marriage-legalisation|url-status=live}}

=Statistics=

Image:Weddinginholland.jpg on 1 April 2001, the first day in which the possibility to marry was opened to same-sex couples.]]

According to provisional figures from Statistics Netherlands, for the first six months, same-sex marriages made up 3.6% of the total number of marriages: a peak of around 6% in the first month followed by around 3% in the remaining months, about 1,339 male couples and 1,075 female couples in total. By June 2004, more than 6,000 same-sex marriages had been performed in the Netherlands.{{cite web|url=http://globalgayz.com/country/Europe/view/EU/gay-european-union-news-and-re-2#article10|title=Homosexual unions slowly gain momentum in Europe|publisher=GlobalGayz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817080131/http://globalgayz.com/country/Europe/view/EU/gay-european-union-news-and-re-2#article10|archive-date=17 August 2011}}

In March 2006, Statistics Netherlands released estimates on the number of same-sex marriages performed each year: 2,500 in 2001, 1,800 in 2002, 1,200 in 2004, and 1,100 in 2005.{{cite news|url=http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/03/032006dutchWed.htm|title=Netherlands' Gay Marriages Level Off|last=Thornberry|first=Malcolm|publisher=365gay News|date=20 March 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060321154857/http://365gay.com/Newscon06/03/032006dutchWed.htm|archive-date=21 March 2006|access-date=17 October 2009}} 14,813 same-sex marriages were performed in the Netherlands from 2001 to 2011; 7,522 between two women and 7,291 between two men. In the same period, there were 761,010 heterosexual marriages. There were also 1,078 same-sex divorces.{{cite web|url=http://www.rnw.nl/english/node/337783 |title=Ten years of same-sex marriage: a mixed blessing |work=Radio Netherlands Worldwide |date=1 April 2011|access-date=5 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407075833/http://www.rnw.nl/english/node/337783|archive-date=7 April 2014}} By 2015, approximately 21,330 same-sex couples had married in the Netherlands; 11,195 female couples and 10,135 male couples.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2016/13/lesbian-couples-likelier-to-break-up-than-male-couples |title=Lesbian couples likelier to break up than male couples |publisher=Cbs.nl |date=2016-03-30 |access-date=2017-04-01 |archive-date=14 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114234738/https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2016/13/lesbian-couples-likelier-to-break-up-than-male-couples |url-status=live }}

On 1 April 2021, 20 years after same-sex marriage was legalized in the Netherlands, Statistics Netherlands reported that over 28,000 same-sex couples had married in the country by that time. Roughly 20,000 of these couples were still together; the remaining having divorced, moved abroad or one or both of the spouses died. Female couples were more likely to divorce, at around 26%, than heterosexual couples at 16%, and male couples at 14%.{{cite web|url=https://www.trouw.nl/binnenland/nederland-telt-20-000-homo-echtparen-vrouwenkoppels-scheiden-vaker~b5f66aaf/|title=Nederland telt 20,000 homo-echtparen; vrouwenkoppels scheiden vaker|work=Trouw.nl|date=1 April 2021|language=nl|access-date=2 April 2021|archive-date=3 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403195355/https://www.trouw.nl/binnenland/nederland-telt-20-000-homo-echtparen-vrouwenkoppels-scheiden-vaker~b5f66aaf/|url-status=live}}

=Religious performance=

Since the mid-1960s, religious solemnizations of same-sex relationships have taken place in some Dutch churches.{{Cite journal|title="Equal rites before the law": religious celebrations of same-sex relationships in the Netherlands, 1960s–1990s|first=David J.|last=Bos|date=2 September 2017|journal=Theology & Sexuality|volume=23|issue=3|pages=188–208|doi=10.1080/13558358.2017.1351123|doi-access=free|hdl=11245.1/a10283d2-b649-459d-88f4-e6bc62573ec0|hdl-access=free}} The Remonstrants were Europe's first Christian denomination to officially allow such solemnizations in 1986.{{cite web|url=http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4324/Nieuws/article/detail/1086030/2010/01/25/Remonstranten-en-Boomsma-krijgen-homo-emancipatieprijs.dhtml|title=Remonstrants and Boomsma receive homo emancipation prize|work=Trouw|language=nl|date=25 January 2010|access-date=4 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105104850/http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4324/Nieuws/article/detail/1086030/2010/01/25/Remonstranten-en-Boomsma-krijgen-homo-emancipatieprijs.dhtml|archive-date=5 January 2016}} The first Remonstrant church marriage for two men was performed at Vrijburg in Amsterdam on 31 January 1987. The Mennonite Church in the Netherlands also allows solemnizations of same-sex marriages,{{cite journal|title= "Equal rites before the law": religious celebrations of same-sex relationships in the Netherlands, 1960s–1990s|date= 2017|last= Bos|first= David|journal= Theology & Sexuality|volume= 23|issue= 3|pages= 188–208|doi= 10.1080/13558358.2017.1351123|s2cid= 148792513|doi-access= free|hdl= 11245.1/a10283d2-b649-459d-88f4-e6bc62573ec0|hdl-access= free}} while the Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands has allowed its ministers to perform same-sex marriages in its places of worship since 2006.{{cite web|url=https://oudkatholiek.nl/oud-katholiek/veelgestelde-vragen/|title=Veelgestelde Vragen: Staat het kerkelijk huwelijk in de Oud-Katholieke Kerk ook open voor mensen van gelijk geslacht?|work=oudkatholiek.nl|language=nl|access-date=24 December 2021|archive-date=24 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224145956/https://oudkatholiek.nl/oud-katholiek/veelgestelde-vragen/|url-status=live}}

The Protestant Church in the Netherlands, the largest Protestant denomination in the Netherlands, has allowed its congregations to perform same-sex marriages as "a union of love and faith before God" since 2004, and in practice many churches now conduct such ceremonies.{{cite web|url=http://janandriesdeboer.nl/?p=41|title=HET HOMOHUWELIJK EN DE KERK|language=nl|first=Jan|last=Andries|date=4 January 2007|access-date=4 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310025908/http://janandriesdeboer.nl/?p=41|archive-date=10 March 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.protestantchurch.nl/info.aspx?o=938&inc=info&rIntNavId=938&page=1649|title=The Uniting Protestant Churches in the Netherlands and homosexuality|work=National Service Centre PCN|date=November 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724163401/http://www.protestantchurch.nl/info.aspx?o=938&inc=info&rIntNavId=938&page=1649|archive-date=24 July 2011}} The Protestant Church was formed in 2004 by the merger of three Calvinist and Lutheran churches. The Evangelich Lutheran Church, one of these three churches, officially stated in 1995 that "there are no theological arguments against blessing same-sex couples", and many Lutheran congregations performed blessings of same-sex unions. In March 1979, a priest of the Dutch Reformed Church performed a "special but public church service" in Groningen in which two men "express[ed] the profound significance of their relationship, promise[d] fidelity to each other, and pray[ed] for their friendship". Conservative Protestants protested the decision.

The Catholic Church opposes same-sex marriage and does not allow its priests to officiate at such marriages. In 1983, the union of two Protestant women, Harmanna Kalsbeek and Ria Bultena, was blessed at St. Joseph Cathedral in Groningen. While the blessing was meant to be secret, it was leaked to the media. The priest issued a public apology. In December 2023, the Holy See published Fiducia supplicans, a declaration allowing Catholic priests to bless couples who are not considered to be married according to church teaching, including the blessing of same-sex couples.{{Cite web |last=Flynn |first=JD |date=2023-12-22 |title=Is the 'false narrative' narrative a false narrative? |url=https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/is-the-false-narrative-narrative |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=The Pillar |language=en|archive-date=23 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223121603/https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/is-the-false-narrative-narrative |url-status=live }} Several bishops welcomed the declaration.{{cite web|url=https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/fiducia-supplicans-whos-saying-what|title='Fiducia supplicans': Who's saying what?|work=The Pillar|first=Luke|last=Coppen|date=19 December 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.iamexpat.nl/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/dutch-bishops-want-give-blessings-same-sex-couples|title=Dutch bishops want to give blessings to same-sex couples|date=22 January 2024|work=IamExpat|first=Emily|last=Proctor}} The Bishops' Conference of the Netherlands also expressed its support, stating that the church is "a welcoming church which will not deny anyone the support and succour of God", but emphasised its views that marriage is "only possible between a man and a woman".{{cite web|url=https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/01/dutch-catholic-church-endorses-vatican-move-on-same-sex-couples/|title=Dutch Catholic church endorses Vatican move on same-sex couples|work=DutchNews|date=18 January 2024}}

Public opinion

According to an Ifop poll conducted in May 2013, 85% of Dutch people supported allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt children.{{cite web|url=http://www.ifop.com/media/poll/2255-1-study_file.pdf|title=Enquête sur la droitisation des opinions publiques européennes|date= 16–29 May 2013|work= Ifop|language=fr|access-date=19 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201082402/http://www.ifop.com/media/poll/2255-1-study_file.pdf|archive-date=1 February 2016}}

The 2015 Eurobarometer found that 91% of the Dutch population thought same-sex marriage should be allowed throughout Europe, while 7% were opposed.{{cite web|url=http://www.equineteurope.org/IMG/pdf/ebs_437_en.pdf|title=Special Eurobarometer 437|work=Eurobarometer|access-date=19 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122075042/http://www.equineteurope.org/IMG/pdf/ebs_437_en.pdf|archive-date=22 January 2016}} A Pew Research Center poll, conducted between April and August 2017 and published in May 2018, showed that 86% of Dutch people supported same-sex marriage, 10% were opposed and 4% did not know or had refused to answer.[http://www.pewforum.org/2018/05/29/religion-and-society/ Religion and society] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718110549/http://www.pewforum.org/2018/05/29/religion-and-society/ |date=18 July 2018 }}, Pew Research Center, 29 May 2018 When divided by religion, 95% of religiously unaffiliated people, 90% of non-practicing Christians and 60% of church-attending Christians supported same-sex marriage.[http://www.pewforum.org/2018/05/29/being-christian-in-western-europe/ Being Christian in Western Europe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925225152/http://www.pewforum.org/2018/05/29/being-christian-in-western-europe/ |date=25 September 2018 }}, Pew Research Center, 29 May 2018 Opposition was also 10% among 18–34-year-olds.[http://www.pewforum.org/2018/10/29/eastern-and-western-europeans-differ-on-importance-of-religion-views-of-minorities-and-key-social-issues/ Eastern and Western Europeans Differ on Importance of Religion, Views of Minorities, and Key Social Issues] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103072336/http://www.pewforum.org/2018/10/29/eastern-and-western-europeans-differ-on-importance-of-religion-views-of-minorities-and-key-social-issues/ |date=3 January 2019 }}, Pew Research Center, 2017

The 2019 Eurobarometer found that 92% of Dutch people thought same-sex marriage should be allowed throughout Europe, while 8% were opposed.{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/ResultDoc/download/DocumentKy/87771|title=Eurobarometer on Discrimination 2019: The social acceptance of LGBTI people in the EU|publisher=European Commission|work=TNS|access-date=23 September 2019|page=2|archive-date=16 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216133347/https://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/ResultDoc/download/DocumentKy/87771|url-status=live}} A Pew Research Center poll conducted between February and May 2023 showed that 89% of Dutch people supported same-sex marriage, 10% were opposed and 1% did not know or had refused to answer. When divided by political affiliation, support was highest among those on the left of the political spectrum at 94%, followed by those at the center at 92% and those on the right at 85%. Women (92%) were also more likely to support same-sex marriage than men (86%).{{cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/06/13/how-people-in-24-countries-view-same-sex-marriage/|title=How people in 24 countries view same-sex marriage|work=Pew Research Center|date=13 June 2023}} The 2023 Eurobarometer found that support had increased to 94%, while 5% were opposed. The survey also showed that 94% of Dutch people thought that "there is nothing wrong in a sexual relationship between two persons of the same sex", while 6% disagreed.{{cite web|url=https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2972|title=Eurobarometer 2023: Discrimination in the European Union|access-date=1 January 2024|work=europa.eu}}

Notes

References

Category:Society of the Netherlands

Category:2001 in LGBTQ history

Category:2001 in the Netherlands

Category:April 2001 in Europe