What to do after a death

1. Step 1

   Medical help and confirmation of the death

   Following an expected death at home in the Netherlands, contact the GP or the out-of-hours GP service. The doctor confirms the death and completes the medical paperwork. If your loved one has died in a hospital or care facility, discuss the first arrangements with the care staff.

   • Seek medical advice first if the situation is unexpected or unclear.
   • Once the death has been confirmed, you can contact a funeral director.

2. Step 2

   Get in touch and discuss what is needed

   You do not need to have a funeral plan ready when you call us. Tell us where your loved one is and who the main family contact will be. We discuss the first practical arrangements and take time for your questions.

   • Discuss care of your loved one and where you would like to spend time saying goodbye.
   • Tell us about any recorded wishes or traditions that matter to you.
   • You decide what you would like to do yourselves and what you wish to entrust to us.

3. Step 3

   Gather any wishes and information you have

   If you feel able, you can gather a few things for the conversation. You do not need to have everything ready before contacting us. If something is missing, we can discuss how to proceed.

   • A wishes form or other recorded funeral preferences.
   • Available identification details and any funeral insurance policy.
   • Clothing or personal items you would like to discuss for the care or farewell.

4. Step 4

   Shape the farewell one step at a time

   We discuss what suits your loved one and the people around them. The choice of burial or cremation, the venue and the gathering are connected. We talk through the options and costs beforehand so you can make informed decisions.

   • Who would you like to invite, and what space or accessibility do they need?
   • Which music, words, photos or rituals would make the farewell personal?
   • What would family and friends like to contribute, and who will coordinate those parts?

5. Step 5

   The day of the funeral and afterwards

   We stay in personal contact every day up to and including the day of the funeral. We agree the arrangements with you and guide the parts you have entrusted to us. You can also speak with us afterwards about questions concerning the farewell.

   • Go through the order of events and everyone’s contributions together before the funeral.
   • Let us know if there is something you would like to discuss afterwards.
   • Administrative matters may also need attention; the Dutch government’s overview can help.

Every farewell follows its own course. This guide offers a starting point; in a personal conversation, we agree what suits your situation.

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