The Recognition in the Netherlands of Child Marriages Concluded Abroad
by Fei An Kersten
Question(s) at stake
Whether a customary marriage between a man and a woman concluded in Eritrea whilst the woman was 13 years old can be recognized in the Netherlands.
Outcome of the ruling
Seeing as Eritrean law requires parties to a customary marriage to be at least 15 years old, no valid marriage had been concluded. As such, the marriage cannot be recognized in the Netherlands.
Country:
Official citation
District Court Zeeland-West-Brabant, Judgement of 13 April 2021, case nr. C/02/371219 FA RK 20-1965, ECLI:NL:RBZWB:2021:2525 (Uitspraak Rechtbank Zeeland-West-Brabant, 13 april 2021)
Topic(s)
Keywords:
Child marriage Customary marriage Legal toolbox Marriage and partnership Public order
Tag(s):
Recognition of customary marriage Eritrean marriage law