Natural burial in the Netherlands
A natuurbegraafplaats (natural cemetery) is not a green-tinted version of a regular cemetery. It is land managed as nature, in most cases woodland or heath, where graves sit between trees and grasses without rows, paths of gravel, or rows of polished stone. Burial in such a place is recognised under the same Wet op de lijkbezorging (Burial and Cremation Act) as any other burial, but the rules of the place itself are different. This article explains what that means in practice: where the sites are, what is and is not allowed, what it costs, and what makes natural burial a different long-term commitment from a standard graveyard.
What natuurbegraven actually is
Natural burial in the Netherlands sits within nature reserves, estates and forests that have been certified for this use. The body is buried in a biodegradable coffin or shroud, the grave is shallow enough for natural decomposition, and the site as a whole is managed for biodiversity rather than for an even lawn. In most natural cemeteries, the location of each grave is recorded by GPS and marked, if at all, by a found stone or a planted tree appropriate to the site.
BRANA, the trade association for natural burial grounds, sets shared standards (biodegradable materials, nature management, perpetual grave rest) for its members. The most complete list of sites is kept by the LOB (Landelijke Organisatie van Begraafplaatsen).
The sites: around 30 across the country
The Netherlands has around 30 natural burial grounds; about 20 are members of BRANA. There is at least one in every province except Zeeland and Flevoland. Examples of well-known and long-established sites include:
- Bergerbos (Limburg, near Roermond), opened in 2003 and one of the earliest natural cemeteries in the country, set in woodland.
- Heidepol (Gelderland), 25 hectares of heath and forest north-west of Arnhem, opened in 2012 with Natuurmonumenten.
The list changes over time, so the most reliable way to check what is available near you is the LOB overview at begraafplaats.nl or the member list at brana.nl. Each site sets its own admissions rules: some accept anyone in the Netherlands, others give priority to people with a connection to the area.
Perpetual grafrecht: the biggest difference from a regular cemetery
In a standard Dutch cemetery, grafrecht is usually granted for at least 10 years (commonly 10, 20 or 30) and must be renewed for the grave to remain; some cemeteries also grant it indefinitely. If no one renews it, the grave is cleared.
In a natuurbegraafplaats, grafrecht is granted for the lifetime of the site itself, often described as eeuwigdurend (perpetual). There is no renewal cycle and no fee that future generations have to pay to keep the grave intact. The trade-off is that the site is managed as a nature reserve, so the grave will not look the same in 30 years as it does on the day of the burial. Trees grow, fall, and are replaced. The forest changes, and the grave is part of that change.
For families weighing the long-term emotional cost of renewing a grafrecht, this single feature is often what tips the choice toward natural burial.
What is not allowed
Natural cemeteries operate by a strict set of rules to protect the ecological character of the site. The most common restrictions:
- No headstones, monuments, or polished markers. A small wooden plaque or a found stone may be permitted in some sites; cut and engraved stone is generally not.
- No imported plants or cultivated flowers beyond what is naturally present. Loose flowers brought to the grave are usually allowed but expected to compost on site.
- Biodegradable coffin or shroud only. Solid hardwood with metal fittings, lacquered finishes, and zinc linings are not accepted. Willow, untreated soft wood, cardboard certified for burial, seagrass, and shroud-only burials are typical.
- No artificial materials in or on the body. Synthetic clothing, plastic linings, and embalming fluids are excluded by most sites.
- No raised mounds, fences or kerbs. The grave is level with the surrounding ground and merges with it over the first seasons.
These rules look austere written down. In practice, most families who choose a natural cemetery have been there in advance and chosen a tree or a clearing they want to be associated with. The marker is the place itself.
What it costs
A grave at a Dutch natural cemetery typically costs between EUR 2,000 and EUR 7,000, paid once, for a grave with perpetual rights, depending on site, location within the site, and whether the spot is shared or single. Burial costs (the act of preparing and lowering the coffin) and any ceremony are charged on top, by the funeral provider, much as for a standard burial.
Compared with a 30-year grafrecht in a Randstad municipal cemetery, with renewals expected afterwards, a natural burial is sometimes cheaper across a generation, sometimes comparable. The numbers depend less on the burial method and more on the location.
Cremation is still the lower-cost path overall, both at the moment and across decades. Natural burial competes with standard burial, not with cremation, on price.
What this means for the family
Three things often surprise nabestaanden (next of kin) at a natural cemetery for the first time:
- The grave is hard to find without coordinates. GPS data and a map from the cemetery office are essential. Some sites issue a small token or numbered marker at a tree.
- There is nothing to clean, polish, or maintain. For some families this is a relief. For others, especially in cultures where graveside care is a regular ritual, the lack of a stone to tend can feel like absence.
- The grave changes. A favourite tree may fall in a storm and be left as deadwood by design. The site does not preserve a moment; it continues.
Recording your preference in advance lets your family understand not only the choice but the reason behind it.
In the app
In the Personal Portal, in My Farewell Wishes, you record natural burial as your preference, name a site if you have one in mind, and add notes for your family: why this matters, what to expect, and who to contact at the cemetery. You fill it in at your own pace, and what you record becomes part of your Zorgmap, a PDF you print or hand to the people you trust.
Closed beta — access by invitation.
Sources
- BRANA — trade association for natural burial grounds; facts, figures and standards. https://www.brana.nl/
- LOB (Landelijke Organisatie van Begraafplaatsen) — overview of natural burial grounds. https://www.begraafplaats.nl/natuurbegraafplaatsen/
- Natuurbegraven Nederland — Heidepol and the costs of a natural grave. https://www.natuurbegravennederland.nl/heidepol/
- Natuurbegraafplaats Bergerbos. https://www.natuurbegraafplaats.nl/bergerbos/nl/
- Verbond van Uitvaartzorg — the Dutch trade association for funeral companies (formerly BGNU and Nardus). https://verbondvanuitvaartzorg.nl/