Registration of death

Registration of death is usually handled by the funeral service provider. Friends or family of the deceased may also register a death. You will need the following documents if you wish to register a death:

• A ‘B’ Envelope. This envelope, addressed to the Dutch Central Statistics Office (CBS), contains the medical certificate in which the doctor states the cause of death.
• In cases of natural death: a medical certificate stating that the person has died. This is issued by a doctor or a municipal doctor who has determined the cause of death. This person is also known as a municipal coroner.
• In the case of a non-natural death, the Public Prosecutor will issue the municipality with a permission for burial or cremation.
• Has the body been donated to science? The original statement of intention to donate the body to science must be shown. This is also known as a codicil. You must also request a ‘permit for dissection’ from the Mayor.

Registration of a death is free of charge. A copy of the death certificate costs € 16,60.

Digital registration of a death by the funeral director

As a funeral director, you maydigitally register a death with us. You will need an eRecognition of at least Level 2. You should use iDEAL to pay for a copy of the death certificate.

Is this your first time digitally registering a death with us? Please provide us with the following information:

• The name and public service number (burgerservicenummer) of the declarant of death.
• The e-mail address and telephone number of the funeral director.
• The official name and the Chamber of Commerce number (KVK-nummer) of the funeral director.

Please send us the digital declaration before 12.00 noon. You will be able to collect the burial permit and the death certificate on the next working day. Make an appointment to do this.

Registering a death in person

Would you prefer to register the death in person? Please make an appointment. The death certificate and funeral permit will be drafted while you wait.

Burial or cremation may not take place earlier than 36 hours or later than 6 days after the person has died. The deceased may only be buried in a cemetery or cremated in a crematorium. A permit for burial or cremation is required. This will be issued free of charge by the civil registrar in the municipality where the person died.

How can I ask for postponement of a burial or cremation?

You must request the postponement of a burial or cremation within 6 days of the death. You must do this with the civil registrar of the municipality where the body of the deceased is located. This may not be possible due to family circumstances. In that case, the funeral director or a family member must inform the municipality by telephone beforehand.

In most cases, the funeral director will have a permit which has already been completed. This should be signed by a doctor. The doctor will declare that there is no objection to postponement of the burial or cremation. The civil registrar will sign the permit on behalf of the Mayor.

You can find more information on the Dutch government’s website (Rijksoverheid).

You may transport a body to the Netherlands from a foreign country or from the Netherlands to a foreign country. You will need a death certificate for this. You will also need a ‘laissez-passer’ or a permit for burial or cremation. A laissez-passer for a deceased person is an international transport document for the deceased. It is also known as a ‘body pass'. You must show these documents to customs officers on entering the Netherlands.

• For transport within Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, you will only need a permit for burial or cremation. This must be requested in the municipality where the person has died.
• In all other cases, you will need a laissez-passer. This document must be issued by the authorities or by an organisation which is legally entitled to so. An English or French translation is available.
• You must transport the body in a water-tight coffin.

The death certificate and laissez-passer can both be obtained from the municipality. This must be done in the municipality where the person has died and the death has been registered.

Has someone died in a foreign country and will the burial take place in the Netherlands? The municipality where the burial will take place will issue a burial permit.