Death, registration
What is it?
If someone has died, you must report the death to the municipality where the person died. The municipality will record the death in the civil registry and the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP). Reporting the death is mandatory. Usually, the funeral director handles this. As a next of kin, you can also do this yourself.
There is no fee for reporting a death. A copy of the death certificate costs€17.80.
This form is intended exclusively for funeral homes.
What should I do?
- The funeral director or you must file the death certificate with the municipality. This must be done within 6 days of the death. A burial or cremation must take place no later than the 6th business day after the death.
The municipality will then prepare two documents and provide them to you:
- a document in which she grants permission for the funeral (the “permit for burial” or the “permit for cremation”). If the deceased indicated that he or she wishes to donate the body to science, you will receive a document with the “permit for dissection.”
- a copy of the death certificate.
What do I need?
- A B-envelope containing the doctor's form stating the cause of death
- valid identification of the declarant
- if a postponement of the cremation or burial is necessary: a permit for this
- the deceased's marriage certificate, if available
If the deceased died of natural causes, please also bring:
- Certificate of Natural Death (issued by a medical examiner)
If the deceased did not die of natural causes, please also bring:
- Certificate of Unnatural Death (issued by a medical examiner)
- Certificate of No Objection for the burial or cremation (issued by the public prosecutor)
Additional information
Has a Dutch citizen died abroad? If so, you must report this to the municipality where the person lived. To do this, you will need a (legalized) death certificate from the place where the person died. You can contact the Dutch embassy or consulate for this. If there is no Dutch diplomatic mission in the country where you are, you can go to the embassy of another EU country. Or contact your travel agency or local police. More information is available on the website of the Rijksoverheid.
Postponement of burial or cremation
Sometimes it is not possible to bury or cremate someone within 6 days of their death. In that case, you can request a postponement from the mayor. Usually, the funeral director arranges this postponement.
Death abroad
Has someone you know passed away while traveling abroad? Staff at the embassy, consulate, or the Department of State can assist you. You must also report the death to the municipality where the deceased lived. You will need a death certificate for this. In some cases, the certificate must be apostilled or legalized. This verifies that the document is authentic. For more information, visit the website of the Rijksoverheid.