Judgment of the District Court of North Holland dated June 10, 2021

The petitioner came to the Netherlands at a young age with her mother. She never knew her father, and it remained unclear whether her father was still alive and, if so, where he lived until she was 13. As shown in the motivation provided by the petitioner, her mother informed her that she was separated from her father and that her father did not want her. Over time, this raised existential questions for the petitioner, including curiosity about why her father was not involved in her life. She made numerous attempts to trace her father.

Ultimately, the petitioner came into contact with people who had known her father through a “search” on Facebook. To her shock, she discovered that her father had passed away. Family members of the petitioner explained that her mother had informed her father that she was going to the Netherlands for a short stay, but she never returned. In response to further questioning, a family member indicated that the petitioner’s father loved her, and he did not understand why the mother had done this to him. Subsequently, the petitioner confronted her mother with this discovery, and her mother acknowledged the story. This led to her decision to sever contact with her mother.

The petitioner originally had different names, but her mother had them changed upon their arrival in the Netherlands. However, the petitioner managed to obtain her original birth certificate, which revealed the names she had initially been given. In part to honor her father and restore her identity, she would like to have her original names back. She regrets that she never got the chance to know her father but believes that through these names, she has a way to remember him.

The court, considering the petitioner’s motivation, grants the request for a change of first name.