Friday, 16 January 2026 –
Despite it being illegal in the Netherlands to have more than one spouse, a total of 463 Netherlands residents were registered as being in a polygamous marriage in 2025, the Reformatorisch Dagblad reported based on figures requested from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations. Last year, civil servants registered 37 polygamous marriages, and 77 in 2024.
Bigamy, marrying more than one person at a time, is prohibited by law in the Netherlands. It carries a maximum prison sentence of four years or a fine of up to €27,500. People in the Netherlands are allowed to be in a polyamorous relationship, but they can’t get married or register their partnership. The best they can do is have a cohabitation agreement drawn up by a notary.
When asked how polygamous marriages were registered in the Netherlands despite them being illegal, the Ministry of Home Affairs told RD that the people in these marriages “had no ties whatsoever with the Netherlands” at the time they entered into the marriage. “The residents often come from countries where polygamous marriages are recognized, such as Morocco, Egypt, and Libya.”
“In the Netherlands, the principle of monogamy applies,” the Ministry said. “This means that a polygamous marriage is not recognized if there was a clear connection with the Netherlands at the time of the marriage.”
But that poses a problem for people like asylum seekers in such marriages. If they receive refugee status and a residency permit in the Netherlands, they can only bring one spouse and the children from that marriage to join them through family reunification.
According to RD, in recent years, several refugees have appealed agains thte Immigration and Naturalization Service’s (IND) decision not to allow a second spouse and children to come to the Netherlands.
In 2008, the last time polygamy was a topic of political discussion in the Netherlands, parliament commissioned Utrecht University to conduct comparative legal research on the matter. The researchers concluded “that the Dutch legal system regarding polygamous marriages generally functions well” and that “the numerical scale of the problem is extremely small.”
The researchers called it “undesirable” to stop recognizing these marriages, warning that this could cause unequal legal relationships if the marriage is recognized in one country but not another. If the Netherlands suddenly decides to dissolve a polygamous marriage, all but one spouse and the resulting children could experience problems.
source https://nltimes.nl/2026/01/16/463-netherlands-residents-polygamous-marriages-despite-bigamy-illegal
You will benefit from this book: POLYGAMY TODAY. Available on Amazon. Please check it out.
Polygamy Today: Polygamy Today in the Western World in a Global Perspective with Reflections on its Past and Present Hardcover – October 28, 2025
by Rafiq Tschannen (Author), Dr. Qanita (Author)
This book is written not to provoke but to clarify, and with the intention to be informative. It aims at just everyone, young and old, women and men, Muslims and non-Muslims, living in any part of the world.
Polygamy is, and always was, part of the society, though not named as such. Various forms of family life, from loneliness and living together to marriages in its various forms, are discussed.
The evolution of family life from ancient times till today is described and how laws kept adapting to the actual practices at various times and in various countries. Furthermore, suggestions for how to navigate legal challenges in an international environment are given.
Categories: European Union, Netherlands, Polygamy
Top reviews from other countries
Judi Alkurdi
5.0 out of 5 stars
Honestly the best book I have read all year
Reviewed in Canada on November 26, 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
This book is so amazing in so many ways, the history and relevance of this topics is amazing and I am so glad I read it!