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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

Your (future) place of residence falls under:
Informatie:

Here is some information from your municipality.

Municipality of Zutphen: Registering a death

  • A valid proof of identity.
  • B envelope intended for Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).
  • The A certificate of natural death, issued by the doctor. Has a certificate of death been issued by the GGD medical examiner? Then the GGD will send it to the municipality itself.
  • Details of the funeral, such as date/time and location.
  • When applicable: marriage certificate of the deceased.

Declaration by surviving dependants

You can register the death yourself. You must do this in the municipality where your loved one died. Make an appointment.

Online registration by funeral directors

You can also ask the funeral home to register the death for you. Funeral homes who are located in the Netherlands can register deaths online.

  • Registering a death: free of charge
  • Official copy of the death certificate: €14
  • Verlof begraven of cremeren (permission for burial or cremation): free of charge

Will the burial or cremation take place later than six working days after the death? Then an extension must be granted. For a postponement, please contact the municipality.

  • 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.

Questions about this topic?

Contact the Municipality of Zutphen

Visiting address

's Gravenhof 2

7201DN Zutphen

Opening hours
Monday
08:30 - 12:00
13:00 - 16:00
Tuesday
08:30 - 12:00
Wednesday
08:30 - 12:00
13:00 - 16:00
Thursday
08:30 - 12:00
17:30 - 19:30
Friday
08:30 - 12:00
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

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Last updated on 23 September 2022