Back in 2001 , the existing ( normal ) marriage law was ` only ' changed , so that it now includes marriage of same-sex partners . This means that same-sex marriage in the Netherlands is not different from a normal marriage ; it 's exactly the same . One argument against same-sex marriage arises from a rejection of the use of the word `` marriage '' as applied to same-sex couples , as well as objections about the legal and social status of marriage itself being applied to same-sex partners under any terminology .