Gay couples are celebrating legislation by the Dutch parliament which clears the path towards legal marriage and adoption after a 14-year campaign for equal rights.

In the next few months, parliament will strike the words "mother and father" and "man and woman" from civil law, amending them to read "partners", wiping out the last references distinguishing gays from heterosexual couples.

The new laws are expected to take effect from April and will affect 20,000 Dutch children with parents of the same sex. But the laws will not allow non-resident gay couples to marry in the Netherlands or register adopted children.