Registered Partners

Becoming official felt like a quiet but powerful moment. When we decided last summer to move in together at the start of 2025, registering our partnership was already on our minds. It was a step toward something bigger, strengthening our bond with trust and commitment. There was no dramatic “I do.” Just two signatures, a legal confirmation, and a promise between us.

A couple of weeks after returning from Colombia, we squeezed into a packed Mini with our dear friends Anita and Thomas as our witnesses and drove to the gemeentehuis van Bloemendaal. The ceremony lasted ten minutes. Five signatures later it was done. So simple, yet so meaningful. Sebas beamed with happiness and I could not stop smiling either.

Marriage and Partnership in the Netherlands

Love does not depend on one grand ceremony. It grows through the choices we make for each other every day. For us, a registered partnership was one of those choices. Unlike marriage there was no “I do,” no long speeches, no walk down the aisle. Just a legal step that sealed our commitment.

Simplicity does not make it less significant. A registered partnership carries nearly the same legal weight as marriage, with some differences in parental rights and the way it can be dissolved. It gives us the security of being legally bound while leaving space for the future. And who knows, maybe one day we will celebrate our love with vows, music, and the magic of a wedding. For now, this was exactly the step we needed to move forward together.

Follow Our Journey

From the Caribbean to our new winter wonderland in the Netherlands, this is only the beginning. Follow our journey in real time on Instagram to see more of our story.

If you haven’t yet, check out our book The Art of Thriving in Long-Distance Relationships where we share more of what we learned along the way.

Thank you for all your support so far! Tot volgende week! 😊