Aims. The mass discrepancy between the observed population of double neutron star binaries by radio pulsar observations and gravitational-wave observation requires an explanation. Methods. Binary population synthesis calculations are performed, and their results are compared with the radio and the gravitational-wave observations simultaneously. Results. Simulations of binary evolution are used to link different observations of double neutron star binaries with each other. The progenitor of GW190425 is investigated in more detail. A distribution of masses and merger times of the possible progenitors is presented. Conclusions. A mass discrepancy between the radio pulsars in the Milky Way with another neutron star companion and the inferred masses from gravitational-wave observations of those kind of merging systems is naturally found in binary evolution.