Starting Monday, March 16, residents from Leidsche Rijn, Vleuten, and De Meern can weekly visit the relationship and divorce consultation hour. The consultation hour is for residents who need information, advice, and support regarding relationship problems and divorces. For example, about communication with your (ex-)partner or how to jointly organize parenting after a divorce. You can also get information about finances and legal matters.
Dennis de Vries, alderman for Youth: “Divorce is a significant and emotional event for many people. A lot happens in a short time: from practical matters such as housing and finances to properly organizing care for the children. It is good that we as a municipality stand alongside families. By helping parents to organize everything as well as possible, we prevent a relationship breakdown from escalating. For children, a divorce of parents is already very impactful, let alone when tensions and conflicts get out of hand. We often see that children then need youth care. With the relationship and divorce consultation hour, we want to contribute to children experiencing as little trouble as possible from a divorce.”
To support residents during a divorce, the municipality of Utrecht is starting a relationship and divorce consultation hour from March 16. The start of the consultation hour is part of the broader approach to relationship and divorce questions, implementing the agreements in the Utrecht coalition agreement.
Parents can visit the consultation hour for accessible information, advice, and support on various issues related to relationship problems and divorces. Professionals look broadly at what is needed and what support is appropriate. Together it is examined what can help to separate as well as possible and with respect, so that parents can continue to fulfill their role well and children experience as few adverse effects from the divorce as possible. In complex divorces, it often happens that children suffer later from it. For example, in the form of anxiety, stress, and behavioral problems. With the relationship and divorce consultation hour, the municipality helps parents in an accessible way to make the process run more smoothly.
The consultation hour takes place every Monday from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM in the library in Leidsche Rijn. Initially the consultation hour is intended for people from Leidsche Rijn, Vleuten, and De Meern. When it proves successful, the municipality will expand it to other parts of the city. The consultation hour is primarily intended for people with children, but people without children who need help with their divorce or relationship problems can also come.
Further in 2026
The relationship and divorce consultation hour is part of the broader approach to relationship and divorce questions. In 2026, the divorce team will also have a consultation function alongside the consultation hour, where professionals can request support for stalled cases.
There are also various projects around strengthening relationships. For example, Stichting Al Amal organizes meetings to prepare residents for marriage and to (better) learn to deal with relationship problems. Young parents can also use the online course from OudersInc for free.
More information about the full offer in Utrecht can be found here: https://www.utrecht.nl/zorg-en-onderwijs/jeugd-en-gezin
Help and contact – Municipality of Utrecht
Visiting address
Stadsplateau 1
3521 AZ Utrecht
Postal address
PO Box 16200
3500 CE Utrecht