Divorce Lawyer in Amsterdam

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As a divorce lawyer in Amsterdam, Law & More assists expats and international couples who want to divorce in the Netherlands, whether you are Dutch, from another EU country or from outside the EU. We check which court has jurisdiction and which law applies, and we handle the procedure, the parenting plan and the financial arrangements in English or Dutch. The first step is a free introductory meeting at our Amsterdam visiting location or by video call.

Clients rate Law & More 9.6 out of 10 on Klantenvertellen, the Dutch review platform (81 reviews, as of October 2026).

What can we help you with?

checking whether a Dutch court can grant your divorce when one or both of you are not Dutch;
a joint or unilateral divorce petition at the Amsterdam District Court (Rechtbank Amsterdam);
drafting the parenting plan (ouderschapsplan) and the divorce settlement (echtscheidingsconvenant);
cross-border child and spousal maintenance;
dividing property, including assets abroad and a foreign prenuptial agreement;
the consequences of the divorce for a residence permit based on your marriage;
a parent who wants to move abroad with the children.

Can you divorce in Amsterdam if you are not Dutch?

Yes, provided a Dutch court has jurisdiction under the Brussels II-ter Regulation. Your nationality and the place where you married are usually not decisive; where you and your spouse habitually live is.

Regulation (EU) 2019/1111 (Brussels II-ter) applies to proceedings started on or after 1 August 2022 in all EU member states except Denmark; see EUR-Lex. Under Article 3, a Dutch court has jurisdiction if, for example:

you and your spouse both habitually live in the Netherlands;
you last lived together in the Netherlands and one of you still lives here;
the respondent lives here, or you file jointly and one of you lives here;
the spouse who files has lived in the Netherlands for at least one year immediately before filing, or for at least six months if that spouse is Dutch;
you are both Dutch nationals, wherever you live.

If you or your spouse live in Amsterdam or the surrounding area, the Amsterdam District Court usually hears the case. If courts in two EU countries have jurisdiction, the court seized first takes priority, so timing can matter. See our guide to international divorce in the Netherlands.

Which law applies to your divorce in the Netherlands?

A Dutch court in principle applies Dutch law to the divorce itself, under Article 10:56 of the Dutch Civil Code. Property and maintenance have their own conflict rules, so foreign law can still apply to those parts.

The Netherlands does not take part in the EU Rome III Regulation. The only Dutch ground for divorce is that the marriage has irretrievably broken down (duurzame ontwrichting), under Article 1:151 of the Dutch Civil Code.

For matrimonial property, EU Regulation 2016/1103 applies to marriages from 29 January 2019, and the Hague Matrimonial Property Convention of 1978 to marriages between 1 September 1992 and that date. A valid choice of law in a prenuptial agreement takes priority. Read more about prenuptial agreements and divorce.

How does a divorce procedure at the Amsterdam District Court work?

A divorce in the Netherlands always starts with a petition filed by a lawyer. Spouses who agree can file a joint petition with one lawyer; otherwise each spouse needs their own lawyer.

A joint petition is often decided on the documents. In a unilateral petition, your spouse can file a defence and the court usually holds a hearing. During the procedure, you can ask for provisional measures (voorlopige voorzieningen) on the family home, maintenance and the children. See provisional measures in divorce proceedings.

You can appeal to the Amsterdam Court of Appeal (Gerechtshof Amsterdam) within three months of the decision. You are only divorced once the final decision is registered in the Dutch civil registry, under Article 1:163 of the Dutch Civil Code. Registration must take place within six months after the decision becomes final; otherwise the decision lapses.

What must the parenting plan cover for an international family?

If you have minor children and share parental authority, your petition must include a parenting plan under Article 815 of the Dutch Code of Civil Procedure.

The law requires at least agreements on care and upbringing, on how you inform and consult each other, and on the costs of the children. For international families, we add arrangements on holidays abroad, passports and the choice of school.

A parent with joint authority may not move abroad with the children without the other parent's consent or the court's substitute permission under Article 1:253a of the Dutch Civil Code. Otherwise, the move can amount to international child abduction. Read moving abroad during your divorce and international child abduction.

What happens to your residence permit after a divorce?

If your residence permit is based on your relationship with your spouse, the divorce ends the purpose of your stay and the IND may withdraw the permit. A permit based on your own work or study is not affected.

You and your spouse, as sponsor, must report the end of the relationship to the IND. After several years of lawful residence or in special circumstances, you may qualify for another permit. Check the conditions on ind.nl before the divorce is final. Our guide on divorce and your residence permit explains the options.

How does working with Law & More work?

Introductory meeting: free of charge, in Amsterdam or by video call.
Advice and cost estimate: we check jurisdiction and applicable law and explain the route and costs.
Approach and negotiation: we prepare the parenting plan and divorce settlement and negotiate with your spouse or their lawyer.
Procedure or completion: we file the petition at the Amsterdam District Court, represent you at any hearing and arrange registration of the divorce.

What does a divorce lawyer in Amsterdam cost?

We work on an hourly rate that we agree with you in advance. The rate for a lawyer is 250 to 350 euros excluding VAT, and for a partner 300 to 400 euros excluding VAT.

The introductory meeting is free of charge. A one-off advice meeting without further assistance costs 300 euros including VAT. External costs, such as the court fee (griffierecht) and translations, are charged separately. Legal aid exists through the Legal Aid Board (Raad voor Rechtsbijstand), but we do not work on that basis. See also the cost of a divorce in the Netherlands.

Who handles your case?

International divorces in Amsterdam are handled by our family law lawyers Aylin Acar, Michelle Marjanovic and Jade Vaneerdewegh. You can find them on our team page. For a general overview of Dutch divorce law, see our divorce lawyer page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a divorce lawyer in Amsterdam for a joint divorce?

Yes. In the Netherlands, every divorce petition must be filed by a lawyer. If you agree on everything, one lawyer can file a joint petition for both of you. If a real conflict arises later, each of you will need your own lawyer. Meetings can take place in Amsterdam or by video call.

Can we divorce in the Netherlands if we married abroad?

Yes. The place where you married does not decide which court has jurisdiction; your habitual residence and nationality do. The court will need your marriage certificate, usually legalised or with an apostille and sometimes translated. If your marriage was never registered in the Netherlands, the divorce is registered in The Hague after the decision becomes final.

Will a Dutch divorce be recognised in our home country?

Within the EU, except Denmark, a Dutch divorce is recognised without a special procedure under the Brussels II-ter Regulation. Outside the EU, recognition depends on the law of the other country. Some countries require an extra step, such as registration with a local court or consulate. Check this before you file, so that you do not stay married on paper elsewhere.

Which court decides about our children if one parent moves abroad?

In principle, the courts of the country where the child habitually lives have jurisdiction. After a lawful move to another EU country, the Dutch court keeps jurisdiction for three months to change contact arrangements, under Article 8 of Brussels II-ter. A move without the other parent's consent or court permission does not simply transfer jurisdiction and may be child abduction.

Can my spouse block the divorce?

No. Under Dutch law, the marriage can be dissolved if it has irretrievably broken down, and one spouse can file a petition alone. The other spouse can dispute the arrangements on children, maintenance and property, but in practice cannot prevent the divorce itself.

In doubt about your position? Tell us about your situation. We will let you know within one working day what your options are. Use our contact form, call +31 20 369 71 21 or e-mail info@lawandmore.nl.

Law & More, Marconilaan 13, 5612 HM Eindhoven (+31 40 369 06 80) and visiting location Pietersbergweg 291, 1105 BM Amsterdam (+31 20 369 71 21). Available Monday to Friday 08:00-22:00, Saturday and Sunday 09:00-17:00.

This page provides general information and does not replace advice on your specific situation.