Death, notification

What is it?

If someone has died, you must report this to the municipality where the person died. The municipality will record the death of this person in the civil registry and the Personal Records Database (BRP). Reporting a death is mandatory. Usually, the funeral director will do this. As a next of kin, you can also do this yourself.

What should I do?

  • The funeral director or you must register the death 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 working day after the death.

The municipality will then prepare two documents and give them to you:

  • a document in which she gives permission for the funeral (the 'permission to bury' or 'permission to cremate'). Did the deceased indicate that he or she wanted to donate their body to science? Then you will receive a document with the 'permission to dissect'.
  • a copy of the death certificate.

What do I need?

  • B envelope containing the doctor's form stating the cause of death
  • valid identification of the person reporting
  • if postponement of the cremation or burial is necessary: a permit for this
  • the marriage certificate of the deceased, if applicable

If the deceased died of natural causes, you should also bring:

  • certificate of natural death (from a medical examiner)

If the deceased did not die of natural causes, you should also bring:

  • certificate of unnatural death (from a medical examiner)
  • statement of no objection to the burial or cremation (from the public prosecutor)

Additional information

Has someone from the Netherlands died abroad? If so, you must report this to the municipality where that person lived. To do so, 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 organization or local police. More information can be found on the website of the national government.

Postponement of burial or cremation

Sometimes it is not possible to bury or cremate someone within six days of their death. In that case, you can request a postponement from the mayor. Usually, the funeral director will arrange this postponement.