Legislation and regulations
Registration
It is compulsory in the Netherlands to register births and deaths after a period of 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Below you can see exactly what the rules are.
For 24 weeks of pregnancy
| Stillborn | Born alive, survived less than 24 hours | Born alive, survived more than 24 hours |
| Registration is not compulsory but it is allowed. | Registration is not compulsory but it is allowed. | Registration is mandatory. |
| The doctor will always give you a “Declaration less than 24 weeks”. You will need this declaration for your funeral insurance and at the crematorium/cemetery as proof that your child is under 24 weeks of age. This is very important to get before leaving the hospital. If you want to file a registration you will also receive a declaration of death and in some cases a B declaration (this is not compulsory). The choice between declaring or not declaring is independent of the choice between collective cremation or no cremation. In other words, you can choose not to file a denunciation report and still have your own cremation or to file a denunciation report and collective cremation. | The doctor will give you a “Declaration less than 24 weeks”. You will need this declaration for your funeral insurance and at the crematorium/cemetery as proof that your child is under 24 weeks of age. This is very important to get before leaving the hospital. If you want to file a registration, you will be given a doctor’s certificate of birth and for the declaration of death you will be given a doctor’s certificate of death and a B declaration (this is not compulsory). | Within 3 working days after birth, you report the birth in the place of birth. Within 3 working days after the death of your baby, you file a death certificate instead of a death certificate. This is often the same place as the place of birth, but not always. So pay close attention! The declaration of birth must be made by someone who was present at the birth. The declaration of death can be made by anyone. For the declaration of birth you will receive a doctor’s declaration of birth and for the declaration of death you will receive a doctor’s declaration of death and a B declaration. |
| You will receive a birth certificate (still) and sometimes leave to be buried/cremated (this is not compulsory). | You will receive a birth certificate and a death certificate and sometimes leave to be buried/cremated (this is not compulsory). | You will receive a birth certificate and a death certificate and sometimes leave to be buried/cremated. |
| The registration itself costs nothing, the certificate does. | The registration itself costs nothing, the certificate does. | The registration itself costs nothing, the certificate does.. You need the certificate for your funeral insurance. Thus, you’re buying 2 certificates (birth and death). |
| You are required to bring a valid proof of identity. If you have a deed of (paternal) recognition, take it with you. Your baby can also be added to your wedding book. | You are required to bring a valid proof of identity. If you have a deed of (paternal) recognition, take it with you. Your baby can also be added to your wedding book. | You are required to bring a valid proof of identity. If you have a deed of (paternal) recognition, take it with you. Your baby can also be added to your wedding book. |
After 24 weeks of pregnancy
| Born Alive | Stillborn |
| Declaration is mandatory. | Declaration is mandatory. |
| Within 3 working days after birth, you have to register the birth with the local authority in the place of birth. Within 3 working days after the death of your baby, you have to register the death in the place of death. Please note: this is often the same place as the place of birth, but not always, so you may have to file the declaration in two different places. The declaration of birth must be made by someone who was present at the birth. The declaration of death can be made by anyone. For registering the birth, you will receive a doctor’s declaration of birth and for the registration of death you will receive a doctor’s declaration of death and a B declaration. | You report birth and death at the same time. This can be done by anyone. At the hospital you will receive a doctor’s certificate of death and a B certificate. You can then take these to the registrar’s office in the municipality where the birth took place. |
| You will receive a birth certificate, a death certificate and leave to have your baby buried/cremated. | You will receive a birth certificate, a death certificate and leave to have your baby buried/cremated. |
| The registration itself costs nothing, the certificate does. | The registration itself costs nothing, the certificate does. You will need the certificate for your funeral insurance. |
| You are required to bring a valid proof of identity. If you have a deed of (paternal) recognition, take it with you. Your baby can also be added to your wedding book. | You are required to bring a valid proof of identity. If you have a deed of (paternal) recognition, take it with you. Your baby can also be added to your wedding book. |
More information can be found at
It is now possible to include stillborn children in the basic registration of persons (BRP). In this way, the child always remains visible in the family composition in official documents and has his existence acknowledged officially.
This registration can be done in your own place of residence and therefore does not have to be done in the place of birth of the baby.
Amendment of the Basic Registration of Persons Act (BRP)
My child was stillborn a long time ago. Can I still report it?
Yes, that is possible. You have to file the declaration in the municipality where your child was stillborn. If this is in a hospital, you have to report it in the municipality where the hospital is located.
This is what you need
Documents showing that your child has died, such as:
- a declaration from a doctor, hospital or midwife
- an obituary notice or information about the funeral or cremation