Immigration · Updated 14 Sep 2026 · ~9 min read

Dutch citizenship by descent: eligibility through a Dutch parent or grandparent, and how to claim it

Many people with a Dutch parent are Dutch without knowing it, and some have lost it without noticing. This guide walks through the birth rules, the 13-year rule, the option procedure, grandparents and how to claim a Dutch passport.

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Am I already Dutch?Could I have lost it?

Rules from the IND and Netherlands Worldwide · Checked 14 September 2026

Short answer

Dutch citizenship by descent is automatic: if your mother or father was Dutch when you were born, and the rules for your birth year applied, you became Dutch at birth wherever you were born, with no application. For births from 1 January 1985 a Dutch mother is enough, and so is a Dutch father who was married to your mother or acknowledged you before birth. Before 1985 it depended mainly on your father. You may since have lost it, for example after 13 years outside the Netherlands and the EU with another nationality.

Key facts for 2026

  • 1 January 1985 is the cut-off: from then a Dutch mother passes on Dutch nationality in every case.
  • 13 years outside the Kingdom and the EU with a second nationality can end your Dutch nationality.
  • 7 years is the age limit for a Dutch father acknowledging a child to pass on nationality without a DNA test.
  • €241 is the 2026 fee for the option procedure, for example for children of a Dutch mother born before 1985.
  • 13 weeks is how long the embassy has to decide on an option application made abroad.
  • 3 weeks is the average processing time for a certificate of Dutch nationality that resets the 13-year clock.
  • 1 year after approval is the deadline to attend the ceremony and become Dutch through option.

This is general information about Dutch law, not legal advice for your situation. Rules change; figures are for 2026. No rights can be derived from this text.

By birth

Dutch citizenship by descent: are you already Dutch?

If a parent was Dutch when you were born and the rules below applied, you have been Dutch since birth, wherever you were born, and there is nothing to apply for (IND).

Your situation at birthBorn on or after 1 January 1985Born before 1 January 1985
Your mother was DutchYesYes, if your father was not Dutch and your parents were not married; if they were married, use option
Your father was Dutch and married to your motherYesYes
Your father was Dutch and not married to your motherYes, if he acknowledged you before birth, or before age 7 after 1 March 2009Only through acknowledgement or legitimation before you turned 18

Sources: IND and Netherlands Worldwide. A co-mother is treated like a father.

  • Acknowledged between 7 and 18? The Dutch man must prove with a DNA test, within 1 year, that he is the biological father.
  • Acknowledged between 1 April 2003 and 1 March 2009 after birth: you did not become Dutch then, but you can use the option procedure.
  • Adopted by a Dutch parent? The child becomes Dutch automatically if under 18, adopted under the Hague Adoption Convention or Dutch law, and the ties with the birth parents are completely broken.

Loss

Could you have lost Dutch nationality?

Being Dutch at birth does not mean you still are: two rules in the Netherlands Nationality Act (Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap) end it automatically (IND).

  • Taking another nationality voluntarily. You lose Dutch nationality, unless you were born in that country and live there, lived there for 5 consecutive years before you turned 18, or take the nationality of your spouse or registered partner.
  • The 13-year rule. With a second nationality, 13 consecutive years living outside the Kingdom and the EU end it. Living in the Kingdom or the EU for more than 1 year stops the count; a new passport, identity card or declaration of Dutch nationality restarts it.
  • The old 10-year rule. Between 1 April 2003 and 1 April 2022 the period was 10 years; if yours ran out before 1 April 2022, the loss stands.
  • Children living outside the EU count the 13 years from their 18th birthday, and a minor usually loses Dutch nationality with a parent unless the other parent stays Dutch (Netherlands Worldwide).

Not sure? The Netherlands Worldwide questionnaire gives an indication; the IND itself cannot confirm it for you. The coalition agreement of 30 January 2026 plans to modernise the law so Dutch citizens abroad lose their nationality no faster than in Germany, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom (Coalition agreement 2026-2030); until that happens, the rules above apply.

Option

The option procedure for latent Dutch citizens

If you were not Dutch at birth only because of the old rules, you can become Dutch through the option procedure, also from abroad at a Dutch embassy or consulate (Netherlands Worldwide).

  • Born before 1985 to a Dutch mother and a father who was not Dutch, if you have not used option before and are no threat to public order.
  • Your parent used this option: the adult children of a mother or father who became Dutch this way can opt too.
  • Acknowledged or legitimised by a Dutch father between 1 April 2003 and 1 March 2009, after birth and while still a minor.
  • Former Dutch citizens who lost their nationality on or after 1 November 1993 and suffered disproportionately from losing EU citizenship; the loss is then undone retroactively (IND).
  • Former Dutch citizens living here again with at least 1 year on a non-temporary permit; our guide to residence permit types explains which permits count.

Fee and timing: €241 in 2026 (IND fees). Abroad, the embassy decides within 13 weeks, and you become Dutch only at the ceremony, which you attend within 1 year of approval (IND). The fee is not refunded after a refusal.

Grandparents

Can a Dutch grandparent make you Dutch?

Not on its own: Dutch nationality passes from parent to child, so a grandparent counts only through your parent.

  • Your parent was Dutch at your birth, because your grandparent passed it on: then you were Dutch too, under the table above, unless someone in the chain lost it.
  • Your parent became Dutch through the option for latent Dutch citizens: then you can opt as an adult child.
  • Families living in the Kingdom. A child is Dutch at birth if the child and a parent live in the Kingdom and that parent’s own parent lived there when the parent was born.

Every link needs documents, so start with the birth certificates of each generation.

Claiming it

How to prove and claim Dutch nationality

If you are already Dutch, you claim it by applying for a Dutch passport or identity card: at your town hall in the Netherlands, or at a Dutch embassy or consulate abroad (IND).

  • Your birth certificate: a complete official copy naming both parents, not a hospital certificate.
  • Proof your parent was Dutch when you were born, such as their Dutch passport of the time or a certificate from the Central Population Registers Office in The Hague, plus your parents’ marriage certificate.
  • Legalisation and translation of foreign documents may be needed; check before your appointment.
  • Already hold a Dutch passport? A certificate of Dutch nationality also resets the 13-year clock; processing takes 3 weeks on average, up to 8 weeks if documents are missing.
  • Renew in time. A new passport can take up to 3 months, so book at least 3 months before the 13 years run out.

Living in the Netherlands already? Our Dutch citizenship guide covers naturalisation and the option routes for residents.

Unclear whether you are Dutch? Talk to a lawyer

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Dual nationality

Keeping your other passport

You cannot apply for dual nationality, but you can have it automatically, for example by birth (IND).

  • Dutch by birth with a second nationality from birth: nothing to give up, but watch the 13-year rule.
  • Taking a new nationality later ends Dutch nationality, except in the three cases listed above; for Austrian nationality there is no exception.
  • Through option abroad you usually keep your other nationality, and children under 18 keep theirs when a parent becomes Dutch, unless their other country’s law says otherwise.

Moving to the Netherlands with a partner who is not Dutch? As a Dutch citizen you can be their sponsor; our partner visa guide covers the permit they need.

Keep reading

Related guides

More guides for people with Dutch roots.

Citizenship

Dutch citizenship

Naturalisation after living here, the exam and the proposals to change the rules.

 Entry

MVV visa

Family members without a Dutch passport who join you need this entry visa.

 Permits

Types of residence permit

Your options for living here while you sort out nationality.

 Visas

All Netherlands visas

Every route to living in the Netherlands, with the 2026 fees.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can I get Dutch citizenship by descent through my mother or father?

You do not apply: you are Dutch by law if the rules applied at your birth. Born on or after 1 January 1985, you are Dutch if your mother was Dutch, or if your Dutch father was married to or the registered partner of your mother, or acknowledged you before birth. Born earlier, a Dutch father made you Dutch; a Dutch mother only in some cases.

Am I Dutch if I was born before 1985 to a Dutch mother?

It depends on your parents. If your father was not Dutch and your parents were not married, you were Dutch at birth. If they were married, you were not, but you can become Dutch through the option procedure for latent Dutch citizens, from abroad, with proof of your mother’s Dutch nationality at the time of your birth.

Can I get Dutch citizenship through a grandparent?

Not directly: Dutch nationality passes from parent to child. A grandparent matters if your parent was Dutch at your birth, or became Dutch through the option procedure for latent Dutch citizens, after which you can use option yourself. Families living in the Kingdom also have a residence rule that looks at the grandparent.

Do Dutch citizens abroad lose their nationality after 13 years?

Yes, if you also have another nationality and live outside the Kingdom and the EU for 13 consecutive years. Getting a new Dutch passport, identity card or declaration of Dutch nationality resets the count, and so does living in the Kingdom or the EU for more than 1 year. Before 1 April 2022 the period was 10 years.

How do I prove I am Dutch by descent?

Apply for a Dutch passport or identity card, at the Dutch embassy or consulate if you live abroad, with birth certificates naming both parents and proof that your parent was Dutch at your birth. The IND cannot tell you whether you lost your nationality; the Netherlands Worldwide questionnaire gives an indication first.

Can I keep my other passport if I am Dutch by descent?

People who are Dutch by birth can hold another nationality from birth. What ends Dutch nationality is voluntarily taking another nationality later, with exceptions such as your spouse’s nationality, or the 13-year rule abroad. Through option you can often keep your other nationality, and children under 18 keep theirs.

How long does the option procedure take and what does it cost?

The fee is €241 in 2026, or €412 with a partner, paid when you apply, and it is not refunded if the application is refused. Abroad, the embassy decides within 13 weeks. You then attend a ceremony within 1 year of the approval, and only after that are you Dutch.

I lost my Dutch nationality. Can I get it back?

Often. A former Dutch citizen who has lived in the Kingdom for at least 1 year on a non-temporary permit can use option. If you lost it on or after 1 November 1993 and the loss of EU citizenship hit you disproportionately, option can restore it retroactively. Otherwise naturalisation is the route.

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Official sources, checked 14 September 2026

Final notes and legal disclaimer

  • This article provides general information and is not tailored to your personal circumstances.
  • It does not cover all situations, exceptions, or recent legal changes.
  • Reading this article does not create a lawyer-client relationship with findlawyer.nl or any associated entity.
  • No guarantee is given that this information is complete, accurate, or up to date.
  • No rights can be derived from this article.
  • For decisions about a Dutch nationality question, or your specific situation, always consult a qualified professional.

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