apr 1, 2001 - The Netherlands becomes the first country to legalise same-sex marriage

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On 1st April 2001, The Act on the Opening up of Marriage went into effect in the Netherlands, which became the first country to legalise same-sex marriage.

The previous year, the bill had passed in the House of Representatives by 109 votes to 33, and in the Senate by 49 votes to 26. It received royal assent from Queen Beatrix on 21st December 2000 and took effect on 1st April 2001.

From 2001 to 2011, more than 14,800 same-sex marriages were performed in the Netherlands; 7,522 between two women and 7,291 between two men. Approximately 21,300 same-sex couples had married in the Netherlands by 2015, and over 28,000 by 2021. Roughly 20,000 of these couples were still together by 2021; the remaining having divorced, moved abroad, or one or both spouses died.

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