Translation of Foreign Marriage Certificate in Antwerp: Dutch Required, Family Court

Married in Antwerp and need your marriage certificate translated into French for Belgian authorities? The Stad Antwerpen issues marriage certificates in Dutch, which must be certified translated before they are accepted by French-language institutions, the DVZ or notaries. TranslateBE provides sworn Dutch-to-French translations of Antwerp marriage certificates within 24 hours.

📖 See also: Marriage certificate translation in Belgium · Apostille and legalisation in Belgium

Who needs a translation of an Antwerp marriage certificate?

Antwerp is Belgium's second largest city and a major port with a highly diverse population. It hosts large immigrant communities from Morocco, Turkey, Eastern Europe and South Asia, many of whom were married at the Dienst Burgerzaken of the Stad Antwerpen and later moved to Wallonia, Brussels or abroad. Equally, couples who married at Antwerp's civil registry and need to update records with a French-language commune or federal authority require a sworn translation.

• French-speaking communes and Walloon authorities: when a couple married in Antwerp moves to a French-speaking municipality, the local commune will require a certified French translation of the Dutch-language Antwerp marriage certificate for civil status registration.
• DVZ / Office des Étrangers: family reunification applications submitted to the federal Office des Étrangers in Brussels require a sworn translation of all civil status documents, regardless of whether they were issued in Flanders or abroad.
• Notaries: Belgian notaries preparing property deeds, matrimonial agreements or succession documents for couples married in Antwerp require a certified French translation of the marriage certificate if the notary works in a French-speaking context.
• Belgian courts: divorce proceedings, maintenance claims or child custody cases before a French-speaking Belgian court involving a marriage registered in Antwerp require a sworn translation of the original Dutch-language certificate.

What the certified translation must include

A sworn translation produced by TranslateBE is a complete, faithful certified rendition of the original Antwerp marriage certificate. Every translation includes:

• The full text of the certificate, including registry references, marginal annotations and official stamps of the Stad Antwerpen
• The sworn translator's official stamp and SPF Justice registration number
• The date of the translation
• The handwritten signature of the accredited translator
• A declaration confirming the faithfulness of the translation

The certified translation is delivered as a PDF by email and is accepted in digital form by most Belgian institutions. A physical signed copy can be sent by post if required.

How to order your Antwerp marriage certificate translation

• Step 1 - Scan your certificate: take a clear scan or photograph of your Antwerp marriage certificate, including any annotations on the reverse side.
• Step 2 - Submit and receive a quote: upload your document via our secure online form. A fixed-price quote arrives by email within a few hours. Payment is by bank transfer (IBAN provided with the quote). VAT is not applicable.
• Step 3 - Receive your certified translation by email: the sworn translation is delivered within 24 hours of payment confirmation.

Frequently asked questions

Does an Antwerp marriage certificate need an apostille?

No. An Antwerp marriage certificate is a Belgian document issued by a Belgian public authority (the Stad Antwerpen). Apostilles are required for foreign documents, not for documents that are already Belgian. An Antwerp marriage certificate can be translated directly into French without any prior legalisation or apostille. What is required is a sworn translation, which our accredited translators provide.

Can you also translate in the other direction - French into Dutch?

Yes. If you have a marriage certificate issued by a French-speaking Belgian commune and need a sworn Dutch translation for use with Flemish authorities or the Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken, we can provide this. Please specify the direction of translation when submitting your request and we will quote accordingly.