Every child that is born in the Netherlands, has to be declared at the civil servant of the registry office of the municipality within three days after birth. You have to make an appointment for this. The day of the delivery does not count. If there is a weekend or holiday during which the city hall is closed in these three days, the period will be longer so you always have two business days.
During the birth declaration a birth certificate will be made, which will be saved in the registers of the civil status. This is the legal evidence of the birth of your child.
Most of the times the father or partner does the birth declaration. When this is not possible, someone else who was present during the delivery has to do the declaration.
To do the birth declaration, you will need proof of birth by your midwife or the hospital. You also have to bring your identification and possibly your certificate of recognition or marriage- or partnership booklet if you want to have your child added.
There are no costs for the birth declaration. After the declaration your child will immediately receive a Burgerservicenummer (BSN) (citizen service number). The child will also be signed in in the Gemeentelijke Basisadministratie Persoonsgegevens (GBA).