Transporting a deceased person abroad
What is it?
You are permitted to transport a deceased person abroad. You will need to present certain documents to customs. You can obtain most of these documents from your local municipality.
What should I do?
You can request the documents from the municipality where the person died.
What do I need?
- proof of the cause of death (certificate from a doctor or medical examiner, or a statement from the public prosecutor)
You will then receive the following documents for the transport of the deceased:
- death certificate
- Permit for burial or cremation (for transport within the Benelux)
- laissez-passer (for travel outside the Benelux)
Additional information
You can also transport a deceased person from abroad to the Netherlands. In that case, you will also need a certificate from the competent authority in that country. The Dutch embassy or consulate in that country can assist you with this.