Gay women across the Netherlands are celebrating after a major victory in adoption rights.

After a recent court ruling, it means gay women but not men can be legally parents of a child without going through a lengthy legal process.

The same rules do not apply to male couples because legal parentship rests with the mother and she cannot simply transfer it.

This victory comes after 13 years the Netherlands originally permitted adoption by same-sex couples.

According to the Dutch LGBT organization, COC Nederland, over 20 couples took advantage of the new rules on its first day.