Registering a death in the Netherlands
Would you like to report the death of a loved one or someone else? Usually the funeral director will declare the death, but you can also do this yourself. This should be done at the municipality where your loved one died.
When you go to the municipality to register a death, you will need to bring the death statement (verklaring van overlijden) with you. This will be given to you by the doctor who confirmed the death. The death statement is made up of 2 parts: the A-verklaring where the death is officially declared and the B-verklaring which states the cause of death.
After a death has been registered, the Registrar of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships (ambtenaar van de burgerlijke stand) issues the death certificate (Akte van overlijden). The personal details of the deceased appear on the certificate, as well as the name of the informant. It is possible to obtain an excerpt of the certificate.
After issuing the death certificate, the municipality amends the information held on the deceased in the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen – BRP).
The municipality also issues a document in which it gives permission for the funeral: either the authorisation for burial (verlof tot begraven) or the authorisation for cremation (verlof tot cremeren).
Did the deceased indicate that they wanted to donate their body to science? Then you will be issued a authorisation for dissection (verlof tot ontleding).
You must register a death within 6 working days, and always before the funeral.
This is how it works for you
Here is some information from your municipality.
Registering a death in the Netherlands
- Valid proof of ID
- Death certificate (pdf, 17 kB) and a CBS certificate (cause of death certificate) from the doctor in a closed envelope
- A marriage booklet of the deceased, if applicable
Registration by family or acquaintance
A family member or acquaintance may also register the death with the municipality. In Arnhem you can do this without an appointment at the Town Hall:
- Monday from 12:00 to 17:00
- Tuesday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00
You can also make an appointment to register a death.
Online registration by funeral directors
As a funeral director, you can register a death by sending all details to burg.stand@arnhem.nl.
Registering a death: free of charge
Official copy of the death certificate: € 15,70.
- As a surviving dependant, you receive the extract from the death certificate and the verlof tot begraven of cremeren (permission for burial or cremation) immediately.
- Funeral homes should receive the extract and any other documents on the same working day or, at the latest, the next working day.