Apostille on a Dutch document — where do I get one?
For an apostille on a Dutch document the route depends on the document type: (1) Public documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, BRP extract, court ruling): directly to the district court — in Amsterdam Parnassusweg 220, walk-in counter. (2) Private documents (diplomas, certificates, signed declarations): first have notarised, then apostille at court. (3) Cost: €23 per apostille (2026, fixed national price). (4) Lead time: usually while you wait (~15-30 min) or within 1-3 business days when busy. (5) Bring originals — copies are not apostilled. Only for countries that signed the Hague Apostille Convention.
Step by step
- 1Identify document typePublic document (birth certificate, city extract, court ruling): direct to court. Private document (diploma, signed declaration): notary first for legalisation.
- 2Get the original documentBirth/marriage cert: city of issuance (not residence). BRP extract: current city. Diploma: school or DUO. Recent but no apostille over 1 year old — some countries demand recent.
- 3Visit the courtAmsterdam: Parnassusweg 220, hours 9:00-16:30 Mon-Fri. No appointment needed (bring ID). Other courts via rechtspraak.nl.
- 4Pay and wait€23 per apostille, card or cash. Ready while you wait (~15-30 min) or pick up same afternoon. When busy: up to 3 business days by post.
- 5Check destination countryApostille works only for countries that signed the Hague Apostille Convention (~125 countries). Non-convention: legalisation via Foreign Affairs and destination embassy (slower + costlier).
All contacts
Frequently asked questions
Which countries accept a Dutch apostille?
All ~125 countries that signed the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, including US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, India, Mexico. Non-convention (e.g. Canada until 2024, China before 2023): legalisation via BZ + embassy.
How expensive is an apostille actually?
€23 per document at court (fixed national tariff 2026). At notary: legalisation separately €25-75 + apostille €23. Rush service via agent: €100-200 but adds nothing — court usually delivers within a day anyway.
Can I arrange an apostille by post?
Yes: send original + payment proof + return envelope to court. Lead time 5-10 business days. Postal-loss risk: send registered. Long-distance movers use this route.
Does my document need to be recent?
Apostille itself doesn't expire. But many receiving countries require underlying document to be recent (3-6 months). Birth cert from 1990 with apostille from 2026: usually accepted; birth cert from 1990 with apostille from 2018: get a new one.
What if my document needs a translation?
Sworn translator (Wbtv register) makes the translation and gets their own apostille on the translation. Sometimes the receiver wants original apostille on source document AND apostille on translation. Check with receiving country beforehand.
What's the difference between apostille and legalisation?
Apostille = simplified legalisation between Hague Convention countries (~125), one stamp suffices. Legalisation = full procedure for non-convention countries via MFA + destination embassy. Apostille is faster and cheaper.
Sources
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