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
You will need the following to file an online declaration:
- An A-declaration and a B-declaration for the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).
- In case of a natural cause of death: a certificate of death issued by a doctor or municipal coroner.
- In case of an unnatural cause of death: a declaration of no objection cremation/burial, issued by the public prosecutor.
- If a cremation or burial has to be postponed: a declaration of no objection, issued by a doctor.
- If an autopsy has to take place: leave for dissection, issued by the mayor.
- Possibly the marriage book to record the death.
Your company details are known to us
With e you can file a digital declaration. A prerequisite is that your funeral company's details are included in our application's master table.
Is this not yet the case? Then you will receive an error message. Please contact us so that we can include your company's details in the master table.
We use Zorgmail/Safe email.
To open this e-mail, we will send you a code by SMS. This SMS can only be sent to a mobile phone. Not to a fixed telephone number. We therefore kindly ask you to enter an 06 number when reporting online.
Has someone close to you died while visiting abroad?
Staff at the embassy or consulate can help you. You can also call +31 247 247 247 (local rate).
Did the deceased make his or her body available to science?
Then a codicil/will from the deceased is required. This must show that the deceased has made his or her body available to science.
There is no charge for the declaration of death. An extract from the death certificate costs €15,70 (rate 2023). For postponement to burial or cremation, you pay €26,20. (rate 2023).
Once the declaration is made, there is permission for a burial or cremation
This is often arranged by the next of kin. If this does not happen, for example because there are no next of kin, the municipality will arrange for the deceased to be buried. Note! You may bury or cremate the deceased no earlier than 36 hours and no later than 6 working days after death. Do you want to bury or cremate the deceased earlier? Then you need permission from the public prosecutor and the mayor. Do you want to bury or cremate the deceased later? Then you only need permission from the mayor.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Helmond