Dutch for the Netherlands and Belgium
Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands and of Belgium’s Flemish region; Brussels is bilingual. In Belgium, the municipality or institution where the document is used decides whether it must be in Dutch or French. In the Netherlands, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) sets the requirements for residence procedures, and your municipality (gemeente) for civil registration.
Some institutions in the Netherlands and Belgium may want the translation done by a sworn translator in their own country, or a foreign translation certified separately; others accept English documents. Check the institution’s current list and share it with us.
Family reunification and residence documents
People joining a spouse in the Netherlands or Belgium are usually asked for a birth certificate, marriage certificate and proof of marital status. In Türkiye these are mostly issued by the civil registry office as multilingual extracts (formula A and B) or as a civil registry record. A multilingual extract may not need translation in some cases; if the institution wants the Turkish civil registry record, it must be translated.
Dutch translation: documents and uses
| Document | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Birth and marriage certificates, civil registry record | Family reunification, municipal registration |
| Diploma and transcript | Study and diploma recognition in the Netherlands or Belgium |
| Criminal record | Residence permits and some job applications |
| Municipal record or marriage certificate from the Netherlands | Registering a marriage or birth in Türkiye |
| Company documents, contracts | Business with partners and buyers in the Netherlands or Belgium |
Dutch names and spelling
Dutch surnames include prefixes such as van, de and van der, and their capitalisation can differ by country. These prefixes are kept exactly as written in the document. The IJ digraph and letters such as ë and é are also rendered as in the source. Turkish names are used as written in the passport.
Frequently asked questions
Which documents do I need translated to join my spouse in the Netherlands?
That depends on the current IND and municipal lists. Send us the list and we will separate what a multilingual civil registry extract covers from what needs translation.
Should I translate into Dutch or French for Belgium?
The language of the municipality or institution decides. Flanders uses Dutch and Wallonia French; in Brussels, ask the institution which it prefers.
Are “Hollandaca” and “Felemenkçe” the same language?
Yes. Both are Turkish names for Dutch; the Flemish spoken in Belgium is a regional form of the same language.
This guide is for general information. Confirm the document and certification requirements for your application with the relevant institution, and include the current list of requirements in your translation request.