Netherlands
Apostille in the Netherlands
At a glance
Who issues apostilles in the Netherlands, and what does it cost?
| Uses apostilles? | Uses apostilles1 |
|---|---|
| Member since | 1 |
| How it joined | Ratified (signed and confirmed), 1 |
| Who issues apostilles | District courts (rechtbanken), at designated court locations, dutch documents signed by listed officials such as notaries, civil registrars and sworn translators; court rulings only at the court that issued them2 |
| Fee | €27 (Court fee (griffierecht) for requesting an apostille or legalisation)2checked 18 October 2026 |
| Processing time | Varies by court; the court of Noord-Holland, location Alkmaar, sends the document back 1 to 2 working days after the court fee is paid3checked 18 October 2026 |
| Documents covered | 10 kinds of document listed by the office |
| What the receiving side decides | Whether it accepts the document: for example how recent it must be and whether it needs a translation. |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get an apostille in the Netherlands
Check on the Dutch foreign ministry website whether an apostille is needed, as in many cases it is no longer needed within the European Union.2
If your document type requires it, first have it signed by another body, such as DUO for diplomas or the CAK for medicine declarations.2
Make sure you have the document on paper, as a digital document is not accepted.2
Go to the desk of a designated court location, or apply in writing by post with the application form and the original document.4
Pay the court fee: at the desk in cash (exact amount only) or by debit card, or after a payment request if you applied by post.5
You can apply yourself or someone else can apply for you without a written authorisation.2
Documents
Common documents
As listed by the office:
- Documents signed by notaries (including candidate and added notaries)2
- Chamber of Commerce (KVK) documents, such as a signed paper trade register extract2
- Civil status documents signed by municipal civil registrars2
- Translations by sworn translators listed in the national register of sworn interpreters and translators2
- Documents signed by sworn court officials2
- Documents signed by sworn officials of the ministries of Finance, Justice and Security, Foreign Affairs, Health, Economic Affairs and Defence, and of the NVWA2
- Documents from the Non-Residents Records Database (RNI)2
- Documents from COVOG, the office that issues certificates of conduct2
- Documents from the education executive agency DUO2
- Documents from the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BBIE)2
More about these documents: university degree certificate, court judgment, company registration certificate, sworn or certified translation.
Contacts
Who to contact in the Netherlands
- Apostille officeDistrict courts (rechtbanken), at designated court locations2Dutch documents signed by listed officials such as notaries, civil registrars and sworn translators; court rulings only at the court that issued them
- The office that will receive your documentAsk it before you start what it needs: an apostille, a translation, or a document issued recently.
Common situations
Using a document from or in the Netherlands
A document issued in the Netherlands
The apostille comes from the Netherlands, from the office named above. It works in any other country where the Convention applies with the Netherlands.
Check where it can be usedA document for use in the Netherlands
Get the apostille in the country that issued the document, not in the Netherlands. The Netherlands accepts it if that country is also a member and the Convention applies between the two.
Check your countryGood to know
Good to know
Note: Rule
Before the court adds an apostille, diplomas must be signed by DUO, medicine declarations by the CAK, certain tax documents by the Directorate-General of the Tax Administration, and certain UWV, Kadaster, SVB and ABP documents by the Consular Service Centre (CDC).2
Note: Rule
You can choose any court in the Netherlands, except for court rulings and decisions, which must go to the court that issued them.2
Note: Rule
Not every court location issues apostilles; each court has chosen specific locations.2
Note: Rule
For a power of attorney or another document you sign yourself, first have it signed in front of a notary or a sworn municipal civil servant, and then ask the court for the apostille.6
Note: Rule
The courts only add apostilles to documents that carry original signatures.4
Before the apostille
Private documents
A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public, and the apostille then goes on the notary’s certificate. A copy of a public document from another country is first certified by a notary public, then apostilled.
An apostille only confirms the signature, the role of the person who signed and any seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm what the document says. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts.
Questions
Questions about apostilles in Netherlands
Does Netherlands accept apostilles?
Yes. Netherlands has been a member of the Apostille Convention since 8 October 1965, so it issues and accepts apostilles for documents exchanged with other member countries.
Who issues apostilles in Netherlands?
District courts (rechtbanken), at designated court locations (dutch documents signed by listed officials such as notaries, civil registrars and sworn translators; court rulings only at the court that issued them).
How much does an apostille cost in Netherlands?
€27 (Court fee (griffierecht) for requesting an apostille or legalisation). Fees can change, so check the office’s own page before you apply.
How long does an apostille take in Netherlands?
The office says: Varies by court; the court of Noord-Holland, location Alkmaar, sends the document back 1 to 2 working days after the court fee is paid.
Do I need to notarise a private document first?
Yes. A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public. The apostille is then added to the notary’s certificate, not to the private document itself.
Is an apostille valid in countries that are not Convention members?
No. An apostille only works in other member countries. Countries outside the Convention use a different process, usually called legalisation. The office that receives your document decides what it accepts.
Sources and verification
Sources
- HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)
- Apostille en legalisatie | Rechtspraak
- Apostille of legalisatie aanvragen (rechtbank Noord-Holland Alkmaar)
- Apostille of legalisatie aanvragen (rechtbank Noord-Holland Haarlem)
- Apostille of legalisatie aanvragen (rechtbank Noord-Nederland Groningen)
- Apostille of legalisatie aanvragen (rechtbank Amsterdam)
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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