Renouncing Dutch citizenship

If you wish to renounce your Dutch citizenship, you can submit a declaration to the municipality. By doing so, you give up your right to a Dutch passport. If you renounce your Dutch citizenship, your minor children will also lose their Dutch citizenship—unless your partner retains Dutch citizenship.

How does it work?

You can only renounce your nationality if:

  • you are of legal age
  • you hold dual nationality

What to do?

A declaration of renunciation must be made in person. Only if you are unable to attend due to physical or psychological reasons can you authorize someone else to make the declaration on your behalf.

  • The municipality will review your submitted declaration against current regulations and determine whether your declaration has legal effect.
  • If your declaration results in a change of nationality, this change will be recorded in the Basic Registry of Persons based on the declaration you made (BRP).

What do I need?

  • your valid identity document
  • all travel documents in your possession
  • proof that you possess another nationality in addition to your Dutch nationality

Extra information

You can also lose your Dutch nationality in other ways:

  • You have voluntarily acquired another nationality.
  • You have committed fraud in an application to become a Dutch citizen through option or naturalization. In that case, you will lose your Dutch nationality.
  • You have been convicted of a crime against the Dutch state. In that case, you will lose your Dutch nationality.

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