Requesting an exemption from the storage period for cremation ashes | Death and bereavement

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Without this exemption, the ashes must remain in the crematorium for at least one month.</p></div> <p>Last updated on 19 May 2021</p><p><span lang="nl" dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/wetten-en-regelingen/productbeschrijvingen/ontheffing-bewaartermijn-asbus" class="external" aria-label="Lees deze informatie in het Nederlands (opens external website)">Lees deze informatie in het Nederlands</a></span></p><h2>Eligibility for an exemption from the storage period for cremation ashes</h2> <p>The crematorium must keep the ashes of a deceased person for a period of one month after cremation. You can only be granted an exemption from this requirement in special circumstances, for example if you have to return abroad.</p><h2>Applying for an exemption from the storage period for cremation ashes</h2> <p>You must contact the public prosecutor to apply for an exemption. You can do this by sending a letter stating:</p> <ul> <li>the personal details of the deceased;</li> <li>a copy of the death certificate;</li> <li>an explanation of why you need to collect the ashes early.</li> </ul> <p>You must contact the public prosecutor to apply for an exemption. This will be the public prosecutor in the place where the death certificate is entered in the register. The public prosecution service has <a href="https://www.prosecutionservice.nl/organisation" class="external" aria-label="a list of public prosecutors which must be contacted to ask for an exemption from the storage period (opens external website)">a list of public prosecutors which must be contacted to ask for an exemption from the storage period</a>.</p><h2>Laws and regulations (in Dutch)</h2> <p><span lang="nl" dir="ltr"><a href="https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0005009&hoofdstuk=IV&afdeling=3&paragraaf=1&artikel=59" class="external" aria-label="Wet op de lijkbezorging, artikel 59 (opens external website)">Wet op de lijkbezorging, artikel 59</a></span></p><h2>Found what you were looking for?</h2> <div class="ctaWrapper"> <a href="https://foq.youreurope.europa.eu/info-service-noft" class="btnCta external" aria-label="Rate this page (opens external website)"> Rate this page</a> </div> </div> <div class="fullWidthSection"> </div><aside> <div class="brick banner"> <a href="https://europa.eu/youreurope/index.htm#en"> <img alt="Logo of the Your Europe, the digital gateway of the European Union." src="/binaries/medium/content/gallery/government/banners-en-uitgelichtjes/sdg-logo/base-logo-ms-tagline-01nieuw.png"> </a> </div> <div class="brick banner"> <a href="/contact"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" id="Layer_1" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 270 160" x="0px" xml:space="preserve" y="0px"> <style type="text/css"> .stijl01 { fill: #FFFFFF; stroke: #CBD2E3; stroke-width: 4; stroke-miterlimit: 10; } .stijl02 { fill: #111111; font-size: 23px; font-family: "RO Sans", Calibri, Verdana, sans-serif; } .stijl03 { fill: #17628c; font-weight: bold; font-size: 31px; font-family: "RO Sans", Calibri, Verdana, sans-serif; } </style> <rect class="stijl01" height="160" width="270"/> <text class="stijl03" transform="matrix(1 0 0 1 64 43)">Questions?</text> <text class="stijl02" transform="matrix(1 0 0 1 49 95)">Contact the Public</text> <text class="stijl02" transform="matrix(1 0 0 1 41 125)">Information Service</text> </svg></a> </div> <div class="brick belongsTo"> <h2>Ministry responsible</h2> <ul> <li><a href="/ministries/ministry-of-the-interior-and-kingdom-relations">Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations</a></li> <li><a href="/ministries/ministry-of-justice-and-security">Ministry of Justice and Security</a></li> </ul> </div> </aside><div id="follow-up"> <div class="block"> </div> </div> </div> </main> <footer class="site-footer"> <div class="wrapper"> <div class="column"> <h2>Service</h2> <ul> <li > <a href="/contact">Contact</a> </li> <li > <a href="/rss">RSS</a> </li> <li > <a href="/sitemap">Sitemap</a> </li> <li > <a href="/help">Help</a> </li> <li > <a href="/archive">Archive</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="column"> <h2>About this site</h2> <ul> <li > <a href="/copyright">Copyright</a> </li> <li > <a href="/privacy">Privacy</a> </li> <li > <a href="/cookies">Cookies</a> </li> <li > <a href="/accessibility">Accessibility</a> </li> <li > <a href="/reporting-a-vulnerability">Report vulnerability</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <nav class="languages" aria-labelledby="languageMenuLabel"> <div class="languages__wrapper"> <p id="languageMenuLabel" class="languages__label">This website in other languages:</p> <ul class="languages__list"> <li class="languages__list-item selected"> English</li> <li class="languages__list-item "> <a href="https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/" class="languages__link" lang="nl">Nederlands</a> </li> <li class="languages__list-item "> <a href="https://www.gobiernodireino.nl/" class="languages__link" lang="pap">Papiamento</a> </li> <li class="languages__list-item "> <a href="https://www.gobiernudireino.nl/" class="languages__link" lang="pap">Papiamentu</a> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </footer> </div>  <script src="/webfiles/1728237806798/behaviour/core.js"></script>  <script src="/binaries/content/assets/government/javascript/government-survey-bar.min-20230526.js"></script> </body> </html>

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Requesting an exemption from the storage period for cremation ashes | Death and bereavement | Government.nl