Ruling of the District Court of The Hague dated February 9, 2021

The petitioner originally hails from Afghanistan. Her name is uncommon in the Netherlands and often mispronounced, causing her daily inconvenience. Because her name is unusual, others frequently have difficulty discerning her gender. People often mistake her name for a male name, leading to confusion. When she pronounces her name, it is often unclear how it should be spelled, which also greatly troubles her. In summary, she would like to change her first name or add a new one.

In principle, an original birth certificate is required for a name change request. However, the petitioner does not possess one and cannot obtain it. She came to the Netherlands at a young age as a refugee. She cannot contact the authorities in Afghanistan to request a birth certificate, and for this reason, she is asking the court to establish her birth data in the Netherlands so that her request for a name change can be considered. She has provided several documents as evidence, including interviews with the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND), a royal decree of naturalization, and statements from her parents.

Considering the petitioner’s statements, the court determines that she has sufficiently demonstrated her inability to obtain a birth certificate from Afghanistan. She has submitted a number of documents that can serve as evidence to establish her birth data. The Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages in The Hague has made a proposal in this regard, which the court has accepted. The court also grants the name change request; the petitioner now has a name that is easily manageable and beautiful.