Adopting in the Netherlands as an Expat: What You Need to Know

For many expats, adoption in the Netherlands comes up after several years of building a life here. You may have a Dutch partner, already have a long-term residence permit, have a child in your household, or plan to stay permanently. You may also be comparing the Dutch system with the adoption rules in your home country and finding that very little lines up neatly.

That is especially true now. The Dutch adoption system has changed sharply since 2024. International adoption, which used to account for many adoptions in the Netherlands, is being phased out. Domestic adoption remains possible, but it is rare and often applies to families where a child is already being raised by a step-parent, partner, or same-sex parent.

This guide walks through what the current system actually looks like, what expats are eligible for, and what to realistically expect.

The 2024 Shift: International Adoption Is Closing

Until 2024, most children adopted in the Netherlands came from abroad. That changed in May 2024, when the Dutch government halted all new intercountry adoption procedures with immediate effect. The decision followed a parliamentary instruction after a report uncovered widespread abuses in the international adoption system — fraud, child trafficking, falsified documents — that the government concluded it could not reliably prevent.

Then-Minister Franc Weerwind committed to no new procedures being started. Roughly 590 cases already in progress were allowed to continue as part of a six-year phase-out running until May 1, 2030. For anyone who wasn’t already in that pipeline before May 22, 2024, international adoption is no longer an option in the Netherlands — full stop.

There was some controversy afterwards. Investigative reporting revealed that new Foreign Child for Adoption (BKA) numbers were issued after the ban, suggesting the government was struggling to enforce its own policy consistently. That doesn’t open a backdoor, though. If you’re starting fresh, the ban applies to you.

Domestic Adoption Is Now the Main Route

For prospective parents starting from scratch, domestic adoption is now the main adoption route in the Netherlands. Domestic adoption means adopting a child born in the Netherlands.

The practical reality is stark, however: only around 20 Dutch children are given up for adoption each year. An expat couple hoping to enter a general waiting list and eventually be matched with a Dutch child may face very long odds. Most adoptions that do occur in the Netherlands involve step-parents adopting their partner’s children, or one partner in a same-sex couple legally adopting the child they’ve been raising together. Stranger adoptions — where prospective parents adopt an unrelated child — are rare and highly competitive.

If your situation doesn’t involve a child already in your life, you should go in with clear expectations. Waits of several years are common, and there is no guarantee of a match. Many prospective adoptive parents never complete the process.

Who Can Adopt a Dutch Child?

Dutch adoption rules focus on the child’s interests. The court will not approve an adoption simply because an adult wants to become a parent. It has to be legally possible and beneficial for the child.

There are several general rules. The child must be a minor. A child aged 12 or older must agree to the adoption. Adoptive parents must be at least 18 years old and at least 18 years older than the child they want to adopt. Grandparents cannot adopt their own grandchildren.

Couples, whether same-sex or different-sex, must meet extra conditions. They must have lived together for at least three years before starting the adoption procedure. They also must have cared for and raised the child for at least one year. This needs to be documented — either a cohabitation agreement or registration in the Personal Records Database (BRP) works.

All prospective adoptive parents go through comprehensive background checks, financial stability assessments, and psychological evaluations. The purpose is to assess whether the home environment is suitable for a child in the long term. There is no way to shortcut this stage and no benefit to trying.

Dutch law doesn’t explicitly bar foreign nationals from adopting, but your residency status is a practical factor. If your visa or work permit could expire or change during what is typically a multi-year process, that creates real uncertainty. Child welfare authorities assess stability, and an unclear immigration future works against you. Consulting a family law specialist before you begin is not optional if your residency isn’t permanent.

The Adoption Process, Step by Step

The adoption process in the Netherlands can feel paperwork-heavy and slow. The exact route depends on the type of adoption, but most cases move through the same basic stages: information gathering, preparation, assessment, legal review, and follow-up after placement.

1. Initial inquiry and orientation

   Contact Fiom, the organization that the Dutch government recommends for adoption information, or a licensed adoption agency. This stage is for gathering information and learning about eligibility requirements. You’re not committing at this point.

2. Preparation course

   For intercountry adoption, preparation classes are mandatory. For domestic adoption, this could be indicated in some cases. The course covers the realities of adoption, the needs of children separated from birth families, and what the process involves.

3. Home study (gezinsonderzoek)

   A social worker conducts an assessment and prepares a report that you must submit with your court application. The report evaluates factors relevant to your ability to provide a suitable home for a child. This process takes time and involves multiple meetings. Honesty and consistency are important throughout.

4. Court application

   You must submit a formal adoption request to the district court (with a lawyer). The court can only grant an adoption if:

   • Adoption is in the best interests of the child

   • All legal conditions are met (child is a minor, child is not your grandchild, you’re at least 18 years older than the child, child aged 12+ consents, etc.)

   • Both birth parents consent unless exceptions apply

5. Matching

   For domestic stranger adoptions, there is a limited number of children available for adoption each year. The Raad voor de Kinderbescherming notes that it’s not certain that an adoption procedure will ultimately result in the adoption of a child. Some approved families wait a long time for a match, and some may never be matched.

6. Post-placement supervision

   For intercountry adoption, post-adoption reports are typically mandatory because the country of origin requires them. For domestic adoption, official government sources do not explicitly state that mandatory follow-up assessments exist after placement. Some families may receive voluntary support through organizations like INEA (Pedagogische Ondersteuning Adoptiegezinnen).

For a relatively straightforward partner adoption, the process may take several months. More complicated cases can take longer, especially when one birth parent objects, documents are missing, or foreign legal issues are involved.

Read Also: Forced Adoption In The Netherlands: Now The Mothers Fight Back

Documents Expats Should Prepare

Paperwork is often the part that expats underestimate.

You may need passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce documents, proof of cohabitation, BRP registration, residence permits, and documents showing that you have cared for the child. If any document comes from outside the Netherlands, it may need an apostille or legalization. It may also need to be translated into Dutch by a sworn translator.

Small inconsistencies can cause delays. A name spelled differently on a birth certificate and a passport, an old divorce document that has not been legalized, or a missing custody document from another country can slow the process down.

For expats in legacy international adoption cases (those already in process before the 2024 ban) any foreign child you adopt will need a residence permit to live with you in the Netherlands. The IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) handles this, and it runs parallel to the adoption procedure itself.

Costs and Timelines

There is no single adoption cost that applies to every expat family in the Netherlands. Domestic adoption costs may include lawyer fees, court fees, translations, document legalization, and advice from specialists in family law or immigration law. International adoptions can run as high as $40,000, but local adoptions are significantly cheaper, and as low as $2,000.

For partner or step-parent adoption, the legal costs may be more predictable because the child is usually already part of the household. For more complicated cases, costs can rise quickly. International legacy cases can be more expensive because they may involve two legal systems, immigration documents, travel, and recognition of foreign decisions.

The timeline is harder to predict. From initial inquiry to placement, two to five years is a reasonable working assumption for stranger adoptions — if a match occurs at all. Partner and step-parent adoptions can move faster depending on the specifics.

The practical advice is simple: plan for paperwork, delays, and legal costs before you become emotionally attached to one expected timeline.

Challenges Expats Face

Language is the first obvious barrier. The entire process operates in Dutch. Home study interviews, court proceedings, preparation courses, and agency communications are not routinely offered in English. You’ll need either strong Dutch language skills or professional interpretation support.

Cultural expectations can also feel unfamiliar. Dutch child welfare assessments carry cultural assumptions — about family structure, parenting philosophy, community ties. Assessors aren’t penalizing foreigners deliberately, but if your background is very different from what they’re used to seeing, it’s worth being prepared to explain your situation clearly.

If your stay in the Netherlands depends on an employer, a partner’s work permit, or a fixed-term visa, that instability can weigh against you. It also creates a genuine practical risk: what happens if you’re transferred abroad mid-process, or your permit isn’t renewed? Seek legal advice on this before starting, not after it becomes a problem.

Key Resources

• Fiom — national information body for adoption in the Netherlands

• Centrale Autoriteit Internationale Adoptie — Central Authority for International Adoption, Ministry of Justice

• IND — Immigration and Naturalisation Service, for residence permits

• A Dutch family law specialist — not optional if your residency situation is complex

By Diana Bocco