In the future, couples getting married in the Netherlands will no longer be assumed to share all their assets equally, if draft legislation proposed by the Liberal democratic party D66 becomes law.

D66 wants to introduce a limited form of community property law in which assets owned before the marriage, or which are inherited or gifted by others, remain separate.

They say this will reduce rows about dividing up assets during a divorce.

The bill, which has the support of the ruling coalition, will be debated for the first time in parliament later on Wednesday. If passed, couples who wish to share all their property, including inheritances, will have to go to a notary to sign a special contract.

The Christian Democrats oppose the planned changes. A spokesman told broadcaster Nos that marriage is about more than a business contract.

Couples who wish to keep all their assets separate currently have to draw up a pre-nuptial agreement.