Divorce hotel open for business, closes marriages

But Jim Halfens says that doesn't have to be the case. Last spring the 32-year-old Dutchman opened a “divorce hotel” in the Netherlands which offers weekend package deals for dissolving marriages. So far 10 couples have taken up the offer and Halfens says interest is growing.

“We've created the opportunity to not just get a divorce right legally speaking, but also quickly, without missing out on work and in a worthy manner,” says Halfens. “Some people will want to return again.” Just in case the ex-couple want to seal the deal with a drink, Halfens has champagne on ice as well.

It's the personnel on hand that make the hotel special: a notary public, a lawyer for each of the parties and a psychologist are at the hotel's disposal to make the process go as smoothly as possible. An estate agent's services can also be called upon to take care of dealing with any property issues. If needed the hotel can also organise childcare. The entire package costs 3,500 dollars including accommodation and legal fees for the divorce which is issued later.

“Of course this is not a solution for complicated arguments over access rights to children or assets,” says Halfens. But neither is it for people who change partners as often as they change their clothes like Zsa Zsa Gabor. The Hollywood legend has married eight times and is once reputed to have said that she “never hated a man so much that I would give him back his diamonds.”

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