diff --git a/import2ledger/hooks/default_date.py b/import2ledger/hooks/default_date.py
index 9aa0ae42fd7343d35a05536d7c5c5ee691e3bb11..a21c6f86855170245471383f956e5dd15ec91f08 100644
--- a/import2ledger/hooks/default_date.py
+++ b/import2ledger/hooks/default_date.py
@@ -1,11 +1,23 @@
+import configparser
+
 from . import HOOK_KINDS
+from .. import errors, strparse
 
 class DefaultDateHook:
     KIND = HOOK_KINDS.DATA_ADDER
 
     def __init__(self, config):
-        self.config = config
+        date_config = config.get_section('Dates')
+        try:
+            default_date_s = date_config['default date']
+        except KeyError:
+            raise errors.NotConfiguredError("`default date` not set", None)
+        try:
+            default_date = strparse.date(default_date_s, date_config['date format'])
+        except ValueError as error:
+            raise errors.UserInputConfigurationError(error.args[0], default_date_s)
+        self.default_date = default_date
 
     def run(self, entry_data):
         if 'date' not in entry_data:
-            entry_data['date'] = self.config.get_default_date()
+            entry_data['date'] = self.default_date