If your loved one lives abroad, the last wishes of the deceased determine what happens to the body. It must be determined as soon as possible whether the funeral will take place in the Netherlands or in the country of death. Didn't the deceased record this in a will or testament? Then the next of kin will determine this.

First of all, you will need a death certificate issued by a local doctor. With this statement, you can file a tax return in the municipality where the deceased is registered. If the deceased wishes to be buried or cremated abroad, you can contact a local funeral home to arrange the funeral.

If the deceased wants to be buried in the Netherlands, funeral insurance determines who is responsible for the costs of repatriation. For this, you can use an international funeral home or a professional repatriation company. Repatriation companies are available 24 hours a day. Transportation can be done by car or plane. The costs can run into many thousands of euros, depending on the country of death and how the body is transported.

Within 1500 km of the Netherlands, the deceased is usually repatriated by car.

Within the European Union (except the Benelux), an international corpse pass is required for the transport of the remains. In many cases, the body is embalmed. You are not allowed to repatriate the deceased yourself, this is done in an official hearse.

In case of longer distances, the deceased will be repatriated by plane. The body is transported in a zinc coffin that is airtight and watertight. You cannot be with the deceased during the journey home. The passport or a copy of the passport must remain with the deceased. It is wise to remove jewelry and other valuable objects from the deceased and bring them with you.

When the deceased arrives at Schiphol, use can be made of the airport chaplaincy. This helps with the guidance of the next of kin and peaceful reunion with the family.