The Queen has power under the law to grant a dispensation for good reasons relieving any couple from the effect of such prohibitions. She has also power, for sufficient cause, to permit persons under age to contract marriage.
As a preliminary to marriage children must ask the consent thereto of their parents, but the consent of the father is sufficient. If the father is dead the consent of the mother suffices.
If the mother and father are both dead the grandparents take their places.
Marriage is treated in Holland as a civil contract.
CELEBRATION.--The ceremony of marriage must take place publicly in the town hall before a registrar, but not until three days after the publication of banns. Four male witnesses of full age must be present. If one of the parties is unable to attend the town hall the marriage may be solemnized in a private house, but in such a case six male witnesses of full age are necessary. A religious celebration of the marriage cannot be performed until the officiating clergyman is shown proof that the civil marriage has already taken place.
FOREIGN MARRIAGE.--A marriage concluded in a foreign country between two Hollanders, or between a Hollander and a foreigner, is recognized as valid in Holland if celebrated according to the requirements of the foreign country, and provided the banns were duly published, without opposition, in the place or places of residence in Holland of the contracting parties, and provided such marriage is not in contravention of the law of Holland.
ANNULMENT OF MARRIAGE.--A marriage may be judiciously annulled on the following grounds:
1. Previous existing marriage of one of the parties.
2. Want of free consent on the part of one or both of the parties.
4. Insanity or deficient mentality of one or both parties.
6. Relationship within prohibited degrees.
7. Marriage with an accomplice in adultery.
8. Absence of requisite number of witnesses.
9. Marriage in spite of an objection raised on publication of the banns, in case the objection proves to be well founded.
10. Marriage in violation of any other legal requirement.
DIVORCE.--In Holland a marriage can be dissolved in one of four different ways:
2. By the absence of one of the spouses for the period of ten years or more, coupled with the remarriage of the other spouse.