Changing your child’s name at the last minute of 2024: ‘When I am emancipated, I have to do this’

“I’m an emancipated millennial, right?” says Otto Zwetsloot, laughing. He walks out of the municipal office in IJsselmonde with his family, where he and his partner have changed the surname of their children. “When I am emancipated, I must also do this.” The two children of Otto Zwetsloot (47) and Eva Whyte (44) bear the surname of their mother and now also of their father.

On the last day of the year it is busy in the municipal office of IJsselmonde, a district of Rotterdam. For the past three weeks, parents have been able to come here every Tuesday morning without an appointment to change their child’s surname. Since the beginning of this year, parents have been able to give their child a double surname. A transitional arrangement applied until December 31 and this could also apply retroactively for children born after January 1, 2016. And this was fully used: approximately 19,000 children nationwide were given a combined surname.

Otto likes to believe that his email to VVD MP Ulysse Ellian contributed to this. In his email he advocated a law that would allow double surnames for children. Ellian replied: “I will do my best.” Ultimately, the transition period was extended, partly thanks to the MP.

“The combination of names is by far the best,” says Otto. “Now it feels normal.” In Rotterdam-Noord, where the family lives, Otto and Eva were the first to choose the mother’s surname for their child. According to Eva, it was strange that they had to choose between her or Otto’s last name. “In South America, parents have been able to give their child a double surname for some time. I happen to know that, because I lived there.”

“If he has children, he and his wife will have to choose between four surnames,” says Eva, pointing to her son. “Or him and his husband,” Otto corrects.

Practical considerations

It is busy in the hall of the municipal office. There are some strollers and a little boy runs back and forth while his parents are talking. He almost runs into an older man. He doesn’t seem to notice it himself, the town hall is his arcade. A bell sounds. It’s next’s turn.

Erik Kalma (31) and Zaza Volkers (31) have brought their three-year-old daughter, Loïs. Practical considerations have brought the family to the office today. Erik and Zaza live together, are not married and do not have a registered partnership. Erik was recognized as the father during the pregnancy and Loïs automatically received his surname. “If I go on holiday with our daughter, I have to prove that she is my daughter,” says Zaza. Recently, she had to forward a copy of the birth certificate. All very impractical. Now that Loïs carries both surnames, Zaza hopes this will change.

Practical considerations, emancipation – the reasons why parents change their child’s surname vary. A number of parents say that the reason is too personal to share. The mother of Hailey Mae (7) also does not want to openly talk about it. Her father, Haile Michael, likes to say: “She is my only child and I would like her to have my name too. Before this, she only bore her mother’s surname.” Haile says that the relationship with his daughter’s mother was not always good, but that they now get along well. Hailey Mae holds her father’s hand tightly. “Nice,” she answers when asked how she likes her new surname.

Long doubted

A name change costs 75 euros. An additional 50 euros is added for each additional child. Oskar, almost five years old, is an only child. He crawls behind his father’s leg. Oskar’s parents left his surname to fate: they drew lots. They both wanted to pass on their surname. His mother emerged as the winner. They got married two years ago and adopted each other’s surname: Laurens Veth-Van Drunen and Anouk van Drunen-Veth.

They have long doubted whether Oskar should have a double surname. They asked themselves the question: do I really think it is that important? It also costs 75 euros and a new ID. Ultimately, Laurens wanted to pass on his name. Now Oskar, like his parents, goes through life with two names.

The driving force behind the name changes is Rico Kantar, who is the only official at the location in IJsselmonde who can change a child’s surname. He picks up a stack of papers next to him. “Do you see this? All requests for name changes. It’s a madhouse here.” He is happy that the arrangement is almost over: “It will soon be a double celebration for me: New Year’s Eve and the end of this arrangement.”

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