In the Netherlands you do not have to get married to protect each other legally, and many couples never do. The tool is the samenlevingscontract (cohabitation contract), a low-cost notarial document that secures rights living together does not give you automatically. Here is what it covers, how it differs from the alternatives, and the Dutch you will meet at the notary.
Why living together is not enough
This surprises people: simply samenwonen (living together) in the Netherlands grants almost no automatic legal rights. As the national government explains what to consider for a cohabitation contract, without a contract you are, legally, two individuals sharing an address. The samenlevingscontract fills that gap. It can arrange:
- how you share costs and possessions,
- what happens to the shared home and contents,
- naming each other as beneficiary for things like inheritance and life insurance, and
- the right to partner pension (partnerpensioen).
That last point is the one people most often overlook, and as notaries note, a notarial samenlevingscontract is frequently required before a pension scheme will pay your partner a partnerpensioen if you die.
Contract vs. partnership vs. marriage
The Netherlands gives unmarried couples two formal options, and they are not the same:
| Samenlevingscontract | Geregistreerd partnerschap | |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Private contract (via a notaris) | Official civil status (at the gemeente) |
| In the civil registry? | No | Yes |
| Ending it | One partner states so in writing | Formal dissolution (notary/lawyer) |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
So a samenlevingscontract is light and private; a geregistreerd partnerschap, which we cover alongside marriage, is a formal status close to marriage. Choose by how much legal weight you want.
The cost
Money is a big reason couples pick the contract. As Dutch notaries publish their samenlevingscontract pricing, a notarial one typically runs roughly 400 to 1,075 euros, with streamlined online versions at the lower end. A geregistreerd partnerschap generally costs more, and ending one is dramatically more expensive. For securing pension and inheritance, the contract is usually money well spent.
The vocabulary at the notary
It is drawn up and signed at the notaris, in Dutch. Know these:
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| samenlevingscontract | cohabitation contract |
| partnerpensioen | partner (survivor’s) pension |
| begunstiging | beneficiary designation |
| gezamenlijk | joint / shared |
| notaris | civil-law notary |
| opzeggen | to terminate |
Because it is a binding legal document, it is worth knowing in advance whether you legally need a translator at the notaris and walking in with the words ready.
A note on residence
Couples sometimes ask whether a samenlevingscontract helps with a partner visa. It can serve as evidence of a genuine, durable relationship in an immigration file, but it is not itself a residence permit, and the IND has its own criteria. Treat it as relationship protection first, and check the official residence rules separately.
Where it connects
A cohabitation contract sits in the wider web of building a shared financial life here, which also includes things like an expat hypotheek (mortgage) you may take on together, and keeping a clean BKR credit registry, since cohabiting can link your finances.
The bottom line
Living together in the Netherlands gives you almost no automatic rights, so the samenlevingscontract exists to grant them: shared property, beneficiary status, and crucially partnerpensioen. It is a private notarial contract (not a registered civil status like a geregistreerd partnerschap), costs roughly 400 to 1,075 euros, and ends with a simple written notice. Learn samenlevingscontract, partnerpensioen, begunstiging, and notaris, and you can protect your partner without a wedding, and understand every line you sign.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the legal-admin Dutch a cohabitation contract needs, samenlevingscontract, partnerpensioen, notaris, begunstiging by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can follow the notary and understand what you are signing instead of trusting a rushed translation.
Frequently asked questions
What is a samenlevingscontract and what does it arrange?
A samenlevingscontract is a cohabitation contract for unmarried couples living together. Unlike marriage, living together gives you almost no automatic legal rights, so the contract arranges them: shared costs and property, what happens to the home, and often the right to each other’s partner pension (partnerpensioen). A notarial version is also frequently needed to name your partner as beneficiary or for pension rights.
What is the difference between a samenlevingscontract and geregistreerd partnerschap?
A samenlevingscontract is a private contract (best drawn up by a notaris) and is not recorded in the civil registry; it ends simply when one partner states so in writing. A geregistreerd partnerschap is an official legal status registered with the gemeente, close to marriage in its legal effects, and is more expensive and more formal to end. The contract is lighter and cheaper; the partnership is a formal civil status.
How much does a samenlevingscontract cost at the notary?
A notarial samenlevingscontract typically costs roughly 400 to 1,075 euros depending on the notary and how tailored it is, with simple online options at the lower end. That is far cheaper than a geregistreerd partnerschap (which can run well over 1,000 euros) and dramatically cheaper than dissolving one. For something that secures pension and inheritance rights, it is usually money well spent.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for a samenlevingscontract and the notary?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the legal-admin Dutch a cohabitation contract needs, samenlevingscontract, partnerpensioen, notaris, begunstiging, in five-minute lessons, so you can follow the notary and understand what you are signing instead of trusting a rushed translation.
