Registered partnership gaining popularity

© ANP
In 2016, slightly more marriages were contracted in the Netherlands than in the previous year. Civil partnership registrations have seen a sharper increase in popularity over the past few years, according to the latest figures published by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
[video: https://www.cbs.nlen-gb/video/789e5313b79843d1b8edfbc23bfbc33d]
(English subtitles available via YouTube settings)

The number of marriages has declined over the longer term. It has stayed around 65 thousand in recent years. Altogether 65.2 thousand couples got married last year, i.e. one percent up on the 2015. Registered partnership is on the rise with 15.7 thousand registrations last year, nearly one-quarter more than in 2015. From a legal point of view, a civil partnership is virtually equal to marriage; as of 2014, the male partner in a partnership is automatically granted paternity.
Marriages and registered partnerships
 MarriagePartnership
'9886.9564.626
'9989.4283.257
'0088.0742.922
'0182.0912.188
'0285.8083.532
'0380.4274.79
'0473.4415.64
'0572.2636.262
'0672.3696.848
'0772.4857.33
'0875.4387.972
'0973.4778.921
'1075.3999.571
'1171.5729.945
'1270.3159.224
'1364.5499.445
'1465.33310.363
'1564.30812.772
'1665.24915.706

Almost 1 in 5 are registered partnerships

Nearly 81 thousand couples established an official relationship in 2016. Of these couples, 19 percent opted for a registered partnership. Ten years previously, this share was only 9 percent.
Not every country recognises registered parternships. This could explain why people with a migration background are less likely to choose partnership over marriage. This applies especially to couples with a Turkish or Moroccan background: less than 2 percent of those who entered into an official relationship last year opted for registered partnership.
Same-sex couples are more likely to register a partnership than heterosexual couples. In 2016, 30 percent of same-sex unions were registered partnerships.
Partnership registrations, 2016
 Share of partnerships
Total19.4
Male and female19.1
Same-sex30
Background
Dutch23.8
Western16.5
Non-Western7.9
of whom
Turkish2.5
Moroccan2
Surinamese14.9
Antillean/Aruban15.1
Other9.6

Partnerships less popular in the city

In the major Dutch cities, fewer couples opt for partnership compared to the smaller municipalities. This is partly due to a higher share of residents with a migration background. In Amsterdam, for example, 21 percent of native Dutch couples registered partnership, against 14 percent of all couples. In the so-called Bible Belt (with the highest concentration of conservative Calvinist Protestants in the country) as well as in the south, the share of registered partnerships may be less than 10 percent. Partnerships are relatively more popular in the northern and eastern parts of the Netherlands.
Share of partnerships in total number of marriages and partnerships, 2015/2016
 Total (%)Native Dutch background (%)
Appingedam35.535.2
Bedum25.623.5
Bellingwedde22.823.4
Ten Boer23.623.4
Delfzijl26.033.6
Groningen21.324.8
Grootegast19.821.3
Haren24.828.9
Hoogezand-Sappemeer13.617.1
Leek18.520
Loppersum22.525.4
Marum19.822.2
Almere17.924.8
Stadskanaal21.822.1
Slochteren24.324.8
Veendam16.818.6
Vlagtwedde13.716.4
Zeewolde25.224.6
Winsum25.028.4
Zuidhorn27.632.3
Dongeradeel32.533.1
Achtkarspelen31.533.8
Ameland22.924.1
het Bildt36.642.4
Franekeradeel27.428.8
Harlingen17.514.8
Heerenveen31.133.6
Kollumerland en Nieuwkruisland38.041.5
Leeuwarden25.328.7
Leeuwarderadeel30.233.3
Ooststellingwerf30.030.7
Opsterland25.226.5
Schiermonnikoog37.50
Smallingerland20.421.9
Terschelling37.238.9
Vlieland6.78.3
Weststellingwerf25.328.5
Assen23.224
Coevorden25.727.5
Emmen16.818.2
Hoogeveen27.229.3
Meppel26.129.6
Littenseradiel30.229.3
Almelo14.819.3
Borne20.722.8
Dalfsen26.427.9
Deventer24.730
Enschede14.618.7
Haaksbergen10.711.7
Hardenberg22.222.5
Hellendoorn30.832.2
Hengelo15.620.4
Kampen23.124.3
Losser23.928.4
Noordoostpolder16.220
Oldenzaal19.523.6
Ommen28.131.4
Raalte32.835.8
Staphorst9.08.5
Tubbergen18.718.1
Urk1.21.2
Wierden19.822
Zwolle19.922.3
Rijnwaarden17.318.1
Aalten33.235.5
Apeldoorn26.328.9
Arnhem18.424.4
Barneveld12.412.4
Beuningen21.121.8
Brummen35.839.2
Buren17.619.7
Culemborg7.910.7
Doesburg21.127.3
Doetinchem25.127.8
Druten22.526.2
Duiven29.532.7
Ede12.813.5
Elburg6.45.6
Epe34.437
Ermelo15.316.2
Geldermalsen16.517.4
Harderwijk16.918.6
Hattem25.324.7
Heerde27.628.8
Heumen18.420.4
Lochem29.231.8
Maasdriel8.08.8
Nijkerk19.219.8
Nijmegen20.626.7
Oldebroek18.419.5
Putten16.216.3
Renkum18.521.9
Rheden26.530.4
Rozendaal26.730
Scherpenzeel19.619.8
Tiel14.619
Voorst37.941.1
Wageningen19.119.9
Westervoort25.229.5
Winterswijk38.644.1
Wijchen23.028.2
Zaltbommel8.27.3
Zevenaar23.222.8
Zutphen19.522.4
Nunspeet9.29.5
Dronten21.525.3
Neerijnen12.413.9
Amersfoort18.322.8
Baarn15.316.3
De Bilt19.119.4
Bunnik20.623.4
Bunschoten7.27.3
Eemnes18.624.4
Houten21.223.4
Leusden21.222.5
Lopik12.411.8
Montfoort21.423.5
Renswoude16.015.9
Rhenen12.613.2
Soest14.016.9
Utrecht13.017.1
Veenendaal14.316.2
Woudenberg14.012.5
Wijk bij Duurstede27.130.2
IJsselstein20.727.4
Zeist12.016.5
Nieuwegein15.821.2
Aalsmeer18.019.7
Alkmaar22.025.3
Amstelveen14.225
Amsterdam13.720.7
Beemster22.225
Bergen (NH.)27.730.4
Beverwijk20.528.5
Blaricum13.620
Bloemendaal19.619.4
Castricum33.135.1
Diemen16.219.5
Edam-Volendam21.622.7
Enkhuizen29.438.6
Haarlem12.215.2
Haarlemmerliede en Spaarnwoude11.512.5
Haarlemmermeer16.620.3
Heemskerk20.824.2
Heemstede15.216.7
Heerhugowaard23.827.5
Heiloo28.833.3
Den Helder27.630.4
Hilversum14.720.5
Hoorn23.727.4
Huizen19.323.6
Landsmeer16.515.6
Langedijk20.424.3
Laren15.222.7
Medemblik26.329.3
Oostzaan27.025.8
Opmeer36.840.3
Ouder-Amstel23.224
Purmerend19.422.8
Schagen31.035.2
Texel32.639
Uitgeest25.027.4
Uithoorn16.822.6
Velsen14.316
Weesp22.134.9
Zandvoort9.312.9
Zaanstad15.320.6
Alblasserdam18.217.5
Alphen aan den Rijn18.222.4
Barendrecht17.821.5
Drechterland28.735.2
Brielle23.326.5
Capelle aan den IJssel11.113.8
Delft15.622.1
Dordrecht16.319
Gorinchem12.117.6
Gouda13.117.2
's-Gravenhage9.117.2
Hardinxveld-Giessendam10.710.2
Hellevoetsluis26.931.2
Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht21.321.8
Stede Broec25.728.6
Hillegom26.330.1
Katwijk12.512.9
Krimpen aan den IJssel15.516.6
Leerdam11.416.7
Leiden10.814.4
Leiderdorp19.727.2
Lisse19.522.9
Maassluis21.229.4
Nieuwkoop31.133.3
Noordwijk16.520.1
Noordwijkerhout17.621.6
Oegstgeest15.523.1
Oud-Beijerland20.119.3
Binnenmaas18.118.1
Korendijk22.521
Oudewater25.426
Papendrecht17.617
Ridderkerk21.323.3
Rotterdam13.221.6
Rijswijk15.922.9
Schiedam14.123.5
Sliedrecht14.415.2
Cromstrijen20.721.5
Albrandswaard17.217.2
Westvoorne17.719.5
Strijen24.527
Vianen9.710.2
Vlaardingen19.226.9
Voorschoten19.820.3
Waddinxveen13.114.4
Wassenaar15.221
Woerden16.920.9
Zoetermeer19.622.6
Zoeterwoude29.632.1
Zwijndrecht15.417.4
Borsele18.618.8
Goes20.421.9
West Maas en Waal25.326.2
Hulst11.617.1
Kapelle20.021.4
Middelburg20.222.5
Giessenlanden11.010.8
Reimerswaal10.011.9
Zederik8.09.1
Terneuzen14.517.1
Tholen13.613.5
Veere24.725.8
Vlissingen20.025.4
Lingewaal12.811.5
De Ronde Venen18.723
Tytsjerksteradiel30.833.2
Aalburg9.911.4
Asten13.015.3
Baarle-Nassau30.029.6
Bergen op Zoom23.930.9
Best13.914.5
Boekel20.924.6
Boxmeer28.433.5
Boxtel25.629
Breda18.822.6
Deurne22.424.4
Pekela12.214.5
Dongen16.617.9
Eersel20.718
Eindhoven9.014.7
Etten-Leur13.815.6
Geertruidenberg23.226.2
Gilze en Rijen24.130.5
Goirle25.326.5
Grave22.523.9
Haaren16.718.8
Helmond11.715.8
's-Hertogenbosch17.721
Heusden20.724.1
Hilvarenbeek23.924.7
Loon op Zand22.124.2
Mill en Sint Hubert16.418.9
Nuenen, Gerwen en Nederwetten10.111.8
Oirschot11.914.1
Oisterwijk13.911.3
Oosterhout22.324.1
Oss12.414.7
Rucphen22.326.2
Schijndel18.720.5
Sint-Michielsgestel21.022.6
Sint-Oedenrode14.719.5
Someren18.520.9
Son en Breugel14.216.7
Steenbergen20.522.2
Waterland24.828
Tilburg14.519.8
Uden18.520.7
Valkenswaard18.120
Veghel14.416.9
Veldhoven15.517.2
Vught15.818.8
Waalre16.218.2
Waalwijk19.725.4
Werkendam8.58.8
Woensdrecht15.217
Woudrichem16.318.7
Zundert20.125.2
Wormerland33.134.8
Onderbanken22.122.9
Landgraaf19.020.4
Beek16.720
Beesel26.228.6
Bergen (L.)34.937.5
Brunssum14.716.5
Gennep24.224.8
Heerlen16.218.6
Kerkrade20.423.9
Maastricht14.417.3
Meerssen16.314.4
Mook en Middelaar18.415.8
Nederweert16.016.8
Nuth20.623.3
Roermond15.622.7
Schinnen25.630.6
Simpelveld22.129
Stein19.019.9
Vaals8.014.3
Venlo21.526.1
Venray24.030.1
Voerendaal21.426.7
Weert12.614.7
Valkenburg aan de Geul10.412.2
Lelystad10.013
Horst aan de Maas29.833.7
Oude IJsselstreek28.634
Teylingen22.526.3
Utrechtse Heuvelrug19.821.7
Oost Gelre34.137.5
Koggenland27.328.9
Lansingerland11.913.5
Leudal18.323.2
Maasgouw18.321.4
Eemsmond17.118.1
Gemert-Bakel22.222.9
Halderberge17.920.7
Heeze-Leende26.327.9
Laarbeek12.811.4
De Marne25.326.7
Reusel-De Mierden28.830.9
Roerdalen18.921.1
Roosendaal18.823.8
Schouwen-Duiveland18.420.2
Aa en Hunze23.423.4
Borger-Odoorn24.023.1
Cuijk25.828.8
Landerd22.723.5
De Wolden25.827.9
Noord-Beveland24.621.3
Wijdemeren17.018.9
Noordenveld23.022.3
Twenterand16.916.3
Westerveld22.022.9
Sint Anthonis29.531.3
Lingewaard26.627.8
Cranendonck12.311.6
Steenwijkerland21.522.1
Moerdijk16.218.2
Echt-Susteren14.514.4
Sluis16.818.1
Drimmelen23.423.9
Bernheze21.622.6
Ferwerderadiel41.844.8
Alphen-Chaam14.015.2
Bergeijk20.321.7
Bladel30.134.2
Gulpen-Wittem16.518.9
Tynaarlo21.925.2
Midden-Drenthe34.334.6
Overbetuwe24.328.1
Hof van Twente28.030.6
Neder-Betuwe17.017.2
Rijssen-Holten13.513.3
Geldrop-Mierlo9.810.4
Olst-Wijhe42.445.2
Dinkelland17.319
Westland20.323
Midden-Delfland30.633.9
Berkelland39.241.2
Bronckhorst30.532.6
Sittard-Geleen13.517
Kaag en Braassem28.434.5
Dantumadiel30.432.4
Zuidplas19.521.6
Peel en Maas19.521.6
Oldambt29.632.5
Zwartewaterland13.614.1
Súdwest-Fryslân27.830.1
Bodegraven-Reeuwijk19.218.1
Eijsden-Margraten18.121.1
Stichtse Vecht17.019.8
Menameradiel30.528.9
Hollands Kroon28.632.7
Leidschendam-Voorburg17.623.1
Goeree-Overflakkee17.618.6
Pijnacker-Nootdorp19.022.9
Molenwaard9.89.9
Nissewaard19.322.9
Krimpenerwaard20.421.8
De Fryske Marren23.725.6
Gooise Meren14.017.4
Berg en Dal26.531.3
Montferland26.130.6
Menterwolde14.615.9