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.
Laissez-passer to transport a deceased person abroad
The person passed away outside the Netherlands
Did the person pass away 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. In the Hague you must do so via e-mail to the municipality if the person is registered in the Hague. For more information to register a death in the municipality the Hague check: Register a death.
The person passed away in the Netherlands
Did the person pass away in the Netherlands? And do you want to have them transported outside the Netherlands? Did the person pass away in the Hague? If so, the funeral director must register the death. To do so, the undertaker must make an appointment with the municipality of the Hague.
Making an appointment with the municipality
An undertaker (funeral director) can arrange a laissez-passer at the Overlijdensloket at City Hall Spui. The laissez-passer is available in Dutch, English, French and German. The undertaker can make an appointment via:
Send an email to overlijdensloket@denhaag.nl
By telephone
Phone Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 17.00 hrs. on tel. 14070. From abroad call: +31 70 353 30 00
Applying for a laissez-passer:
The undertaker can apply for a laissez-passer from the municipality. This must be done in person at the Overlijdensloket at City Hall Spui. The undertaker needs to make an appointment to do so. They can do so:
By telephone:
Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 17.00 hrs. on tel. 14070. From abroad call: +31 70 353 30 00
By email:
Send an email to overlijdensloket@denhaag.nl
Death certificate
You will receive an Overlijdensakte (death certificate) when you register the death with the municipality. You can do so:
- By next of kin via e-mail:
Next of kin can report the death via e-mail. You send the report including the attachments to: overlijdensloket@denhaag.nl. - By the undertaker online:
Undertakers can report a death by logging in with eHerkenning. Then you fill in the ‘Kennisgeving Overlijden’ (‘notification of death’) form. Read more information about reporting a death online.
Report a death online (for undertakers and in Dutch)
- By the undertaker via e-mail:
Are you an undertaker and you do not (yet) have eHerkenning? You can also report the death by email to: overlijdensloket@denhaag.nl.
You pay a fee for a laissez-passer. View the costs
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of The Hague