Update 14 April 2026: expanded with art. 1:160 and 1:401 BW framework and practice at the District Court of Rotterdam.

Hidden income after divorce in Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a city where people work hard. With the port, a thriving hospitality sector, and a vast network of self-employed professionals in neighbourhoods like Kralingen, the Oude Noorden, and Delfshaven, there are countless opportunities to generate income — including income that stays off the books. After a divorce, this regularly leads to a distorted picture: the alimony payer who officially earns modestly but supplements income with undeclared cash work, or the recipient who has been living with a new partner for months but fails to report it so payments continue.

Under Article 1:401 of the Dutch Civil Code, alimony can be modified when there is a relevant change of circumstances. However, the burden of proof lies with the party requesting the modification. Suspicions alone are not enough at the Rotterdam District Court — you need concrete, documented facts demonstrating that your ex-partner’s financial situation differs from what is being presented.

Warning signs that point to alimony fraud

Not every discrepancy between lifestyle and reported income indicates fraud, but certain patterns deserve attention:

Your ex drives an expensive car, takes long-distance holidays, or lives in a home that does not match their declared income
There are cash payments for work in construction, hospitality, or logistics
Business activities are registered under a partner’s or family member’s name
Your ex has moved in with a new partner but denies cohabitation
Stated costs or debts are artificially inflated to reduce assessed financial capacity

These signs warrant further investigation, but they require a professional approach to gather legally admissible evidence.

How SAJ Recherche investigates alimony fraud

An alimony investigation combines multiple research methods to uncover the true financial situation of your ex-partner:

Surveillance of daily activities, work patterns, and lifestyle
OSINT research into business interests, real estate, and vehicles through public registers
Analysis of social media profiles for indications of income or cohabitation
Asset investigation through the Land Registry, Trade Register, and public bankruptcy registers
Establishing a cohabitation situation based on factual observations

All activities take place within the framework of the Wpbr and the GDPR (AVG). SAJ Recherche holds a POB licence and delivers a factual report that can be submitted directly to your solicitor or the Rotterdam District Court.

Practical example

A man in Rotterdam-West was paying substantial monthly spousal alimony. His ex-partner told the court she had no income. Through social media analysis and surveillance, SAJ Recherche established that she had been cohabiting with a new partner in Blijdorp for five months. The report was submitted in a modification procedure, after which the court terminated the spousal alimony under Article 1:160 of the Dutch Civil Code.

Financial fairness starts with facts

Alimony is intended as a fair arrangement after divorce. When one party misrepresents reality, it affects not only your finances but also your sense of justice. The longer the situation continues, the harder it becomes to reclaim overpaid amounts.

Do you suspect your ex-partner is hiding income or cohabitation? Get in touch with SAJ Recherche for a confidential consultation.

Frequently asked questions

When does cohabitation end spousal alimony? Under art. 1:160 BW, when the ex-partner lives with another person as if married. The burden of proof rests on the paying party.

How is hidden income proven? Through a combination of surveillance, OSINT analysis of registers and social media, and asset investigation, documented in a factual report.

Which court hears alimony cases in Rotterdam? The District Court of Rotterdam, family-law division, hears modification requests under art. 1:401 BW.

Read also

Related services: Alimony investigation · Partner investigation · Rates private detective

SAJ Recherche B.V. is a private investigation agency licensed by the Dutch Ministry of Justice (POB 8779). KvK 96790954.

Alimony Fraud in Rotterdam — Are You Paying Too Much?