Taking a deceased person out of the Netherlands
Do you wish to transport the body of a deceased person from the Netherlands to a foreign country? To do this, you need transportation authorisation from the municipality where the person died. This is called a laissez-passer. In most cases, the funeral director submits the application for you.
If you wish to take the body of a deceased person to Belgium or Luxembourg, you do not need a laissez-passer. However, you must have written permission from the municipality, stating that that you may bury or cremate the deceased person. This is called leave for burial (verlof tot begraven) or leave for cremation (verlof tot cremeren). You submit the application for this leave at the same time as you register the death.
This is how it works for you
Here is some information from your municipality.
Taking a deceased person out of the Netherlands
The person passed away in outside the Netherlands
Did the person pass away in outside the Netherlands? And do you want to transport them to the Netherlands? If so, you need to contact the municipality or local authority where the person passed away.
You (or a funeral director) must also register the death. You must do this in person (?) in the municipality where the deceased person is registered. To do so, you must make an appointment with the municipality.
The person passed away in Amsterdam
Did the person pass away in Amsterdam? And do you want to have them transported outside the Netherlands? If so, you (or a funeral director) must register the death.
Registering a death
You will need the following documents to register a death:
- ‘a medical certificate from the doctor stating that the person has died.
- a valid proof of identification for yourself (such as a passport, ID card or driving licence).
Transporting a deceased person outside the Netherlands
You will need the following documents to transport a deceased person outside the Netherlands:
- The Overlijdensakte (death certificate).
- A statement issued by the competent authority, for example:
* a medical certificate from a doctor or coroner
* a certificate of natural death or a statement from the public prosecutor. - Was the certificate drawn up in a language other than Dutch, German, English or French? If so, you must have the certificate translated by a sworn translator.
- A Verlof tot begraving of verbranding (burial or cremation licence), or a laissez-passer.
- Are you transporting the deceased person within the Benelux region? If so, you will need a burial or cremation licence.
- Are you transporting the deceased person to a country outside the Benelux region? If so, you will need a laissez-passer.
Are you transporting the deceased person to the Netherlands from a country outside the Benelux region? If so, you will need.
Declaration by surviving dependants
You can register the death yourself. You must do this in the municipality where your loved one died. In Amsterdam, you must do this in person at one of the City Offices. You must 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.
The following rates apply:
A death registration is free of charge.
A copy of a death certificate costs: €16.60
A laissez-passer costs: €23.70
- 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.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Amsterdam