The Process
How decisions get made: burial or cremation, ceremony, atmosphere, sustainability.
9 pieces in this topic.
Burial vs cremation in the Netherlands, decoded
Dutch law (Wet op de lijkbezorging) recognises only burial or cremation; a bill that would allow resomation went to the Council of State in September 2026.
Filling in your funeral wishes
A wensenboekje captures details that wills rarely cover; not legally binding by itself.
Sustainable funerals in the Netherlands
DELA's 2024 Life Cycle Analysis: natural burial and electric cremation are the most sustainable options.
Music, words, ritual: building a ceremony
Most Dutch funeral ceremonies follow a similar shape; we describe it in four parts: welkom, verhaal, ritueel, afsluiting.
Natural burial in the Netherlands
Around 30 natuurbegraafplaatsen in NL, about 20 of them members of BRANA; well-known sites include Bergerbos and Heidepol.
Opbaring: care for the body before the funeral
Opbaring is the period (typically 3–6 days) between death and the funeral when the body is cared for and made visible.
Where can ashes go in the Netherlands
Article 59 Wlb requires a one-month waiting period before ashes can be released.
Choosing a coffin
Coffin choices range from around EUR 250 for chipboard to several thousand euros for premium hardwood.
Headstones, monuments, memorial markers
Each cemetery sets its own grafreglement — size, height, material, even letter style.