Field guide · Updated April 2026
The 14 Organisations You'll Meet When Someone Dies in NL
From the doctor in the first hour to the tax authority eight months later — a short field guide to who does what, when you'll meet them, and what to watch out for.
Medical
When you meet them
The first person you call when someone dies at home.
What they do
Performs the lijkschouw (external examination), establishes natural cause of death, issues the A-verklaring (medical death certificate) and the sealed B-formulier for CBS statistics.
Watch out: Out of hours, call your regional huisartsenpost — number is on your huisarts's website or answering service. For immediate danger to life, call 112.
Huisartsenpost
Out-of-hours GP service
Medical
When you meet them
Nights, weekends, holidays. Each region has its own huisartsenpost number — listed on your huisarts's website or voicemail. For life-threatening emergencies, call 112.
What they do
Sends a duty doctor to the home for the lijkschouw when the regular huisarts is unavailable.
Gemeentelijk lijkschouwer
Municipal forensic doctor
Medical
When you meet them
Called in when the cause of death is unclear, when a child dies, or in the case of euthanasia.
What they do
An independent doctor employed by the municipality. Investigates non-natural and unexplained deaths and reports to the public prosecutor.
Government
When you meet them
Within 6 working days of death.
What they do
The undertaker registers the death at the gemeente. The municipality issues the akte van overlijden (official death certificate) and the verlof tot begraven of cremeren (burial/cremation permit).
Watch out: You usually never visit in person — the uitvaartondernemer goes for you.
Belastingdienst
Tax authority
Government
When you meet them
20 months after the death (new deadline for deaths from 1 January 2026; 8 months for deaths before that).
What they do
Calculates and collects inheritance tax (erfbelasting). Spouses have a tax-free amount of €828,035; children, €26,230 (2026 brackets). Tax rates: 10% up to €158,669 and 20% above for partners and children.
Watch out: Late filing means interest and penalties. The notaris usually files for you.
Money
When you meet them
In the first week.
What they do
Freezes the deceased's individual accounts on receiving the akte van overlijden. Joint accounts are usually unblocked. Will pay the funeral invoice directly to the uitvaartondernemer when shown the bill.
Watch out: Bring the akte van overlijden AND a verklaring van erfrecht for full access.
When you meet them
Within the first month.
What they do
Establishes who the heirs are, issues the verklaring van erfrecht (proof of inheritance), helps refuse or accept the inheritance, and files the inheritance tax return.
Watch out: Estimated cost: €500–€2 500 depending on complexity. Compare two notaries.
Uitvaartverzekeraar
Funeral insurer
Money
When you meet them
Within 24–48 hours.
What they do
Naturapolis: organises the funeral through their network of providers. Kapitaalpolis: pays a fixed sum to the heirs.
Watch out: Around 45% of policyholders are under-insured for the real cost of a funeral (Nibud research).
SVB
Sociale Verzekeringsbank
Money
When you meet them
In the weeks after.
What they do
Pays the Anw (survivor's benefit) to a partner with young children or limited income, and the AOW pension supplement.
When you meet them
In the first week.
What they do
By Dutch law, must pay one extra month of salary (overlijdensuitkering) to the partner or family. Helps with paperwork around the work pension.
After the death
Uitvaartondernemer
Funeral director
After the death
When you meet them
Day 1 (after the doctor).
What they do
The central organiser. Arranges everything from the cooling and the coffin to the venue, the printing, the registration at the gemeente and the catering.
Watch out: You can choose any uitvaartondernemer — even if your insurer has a network. Get a written quote.
Crematoria & Begraafplaatsen
Crematoria and cemeteries
After the death
When you meet them
Within the 6-day window.
What they do
Provide the venue and the cremation or burial. Most modern crematoria also have ceremony rooms with audio-visual technology.
Rouwbegeleiders
Grief counsellors
After the death
When you meet them
Weeks to months later.
What they do
Psychological and emotional support during bereavement. Often partly covered by the basisverzekering with a referral from your huisarts.
Digitale diensten
Digital services
After the death
When you meet them
Ongoing, for months.
What they do
Closing accounts (bank, telecom, streaming), cancelling subscriptions, handling the digital estate (Apple, Google, Meta have their own protocols), online memorial pages.
Print version
One A4 page on the fridge can save your family weeks of confusion.
The everly app builds a personal version of this field guide — with your insurer, your notaris, your bank. Print it, fold it, put it where someone will find it.
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