Burial or cremation
What is it?
You can have a deceased person buried or cremated. To do so, you need permission from the municipality. Your funeral director will usually take care of this for you.
How does it work?
You may bury or cremate the deceased no sooner than 36 hours after his or her death, and no later than 6 business days after the death.
Burial or cremation after 6 business days
If a burial or cremation is to take place more than 6 business days after death, permission is required from the mayor of the municipality and a doctor. You may request permission for religious reasons, for example, or if family members from a distant country wish to attend the funeral.
Burial or cremation within 36 hours
If you wish to bury or cremate the deceased within 36 hours, you must obtain permission from:
- the public prosecutor
- the mayor of the municipality where the body is located
What should I do?
Your funeral director will apply for permission from the municipality and also report the death. You do not need to do this yourself. Whether you wish to bury or cremate the deceased sooner or request a postponement, your funeral director will handle this for you.
What do I need?
- certificate from a physician or medical examiner
How much does it cost?
See the Ordinance on burial rights (including tariff table) Municipality West Maas en Waal 2026