Death and funerals
Hindu and Sikh cremation in the Netherlands, scattering ashes and repatriation.
In the Netherlands a deceased person is generally buried or cremated no sooner than 36 hours and no later than six working days after death. Cremation on the day of death, as is customary in India, is only possible here with the mayor's permission. Funeral directors experienced in Hindu and Sikh rites know the options for ritual washing, a service with a pandit or granthi, and attending the committal.
The ashes are released after a statutory waiting period. Scattering at sea is allowed; on land and inland water you need permission from the owner or manager, and some municipalities have designated places for it. To take the ashes or the body to India you need documents from the municipality and the Indian embassy. If a Dutch national dies in India, the Dutch embassy assists the relatives.
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Useful links
- Dutch government: death rijksoverheid.nl
What to arrange, time limits and ashes (in Dutch). - Embassy of India, The Hague indianembassynetherlands.gov.in
Documents for transporting mortal remains or ashes. - Netherlands Worldwide netherlandsworldwide.nl
Death of a Dutch national abroad.