Witnesses at your wedding are very important. They make your marriage legally valid. Witnesses are essential—without them, your wedding isn’t legally recognized, and it doesn’t officially count in the eyes of the municipality.

Who do you choose as a witness?

Who you choose as your witnesses is completely up to you. It doesn’t matter who you pick—anyone over the age of 18 can be your witness. You can even choose someone you don’t know personally, as long as you have their personal details.

Most people find it an honor to be asked as a witness. So choose carefully and think about who you feel is most suitable for the role. It should be someoneimportant or special in your life. Choose someone you feel connected to and whom you can talk to about anything—for example, a family member or close friend. Don’t feel pressured to ask someone just because you were once their witness. It’s your choice and your feelings matter most.

Requirements for witnesses

There are hardly any requirements for being a witness. They only need to be adults and have a valid ID. In the Netherlands, you must have at least two witnesses and a maximum of four. You can split them evenly between you and your partner—two each, for example. But that’s not mandatory. You can also have one person with one witness and the other with three. What’s required is that each person has at least one witness. If you’re getting married abroad, make sure to check if the rules are different.

Duties of a witness

A witness has a few important duties. They must sign your marriage certificate. By signing, they confirm that both partners have agreed to the marriage. If your certificate ever gets lost, your witnesses can testify that the wedding took place, and your marriage will still be valid. So they hold a meaningful role for the rest of your life.

How do you ask someone to be your witness?

Being asked to be a witness is a big honor. So make it a special moment. Tell a story about a memory you share or something meaningful you’ve been through together. You can also explain why you feel so comfortable and close to this person. After the story, pop the question: “Will you be my witness?”

How do you register a witness?

Before your witnesses can officially serve, you’ll need to arrange things at the town hall. As the couple, you must register your witnesses with the municipality. You request a witness form and fill in each witness’s personal details. You also note whether they are family and describe your relationship with them. This all must be completed at least two weeks before the wedding.

Changing your witness

Sometimes a witness may drop out or you might change your mind. As long as the marriage certificate hasn’t been signed yet, you can still change witnesses. If you want to change them after it has been signed, you must go to the town hall as soon as possible to make the request. The municipality will guide you through the process. If you still meet the minimum number of witnesses without the person who dropped out, you don’t need a replacement.