Resomation is not yet legal, despite new bill
Official government sources confirm there is a bill, but not that the new funeral method is already permitted.
.jpg){kind=link}
Resomation is being mentioned in reports as a new option alongside burial and cremation. According to current official information, however, it may not yet be carried out in the Netherlands; its introduction is included in a bill that has not yet been finalised.
The current Burial and Cremation Act (Wet op de lijkbezorging) lists burial and cremation as permitted forms of disposing of human remains. The Dutch government explicitly states in its public information that resomation is not permitted in the Netherlands.
Resomation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, is a technique in which the body is processed after death in a different way from burial or cremation. Supporters see it as a possible additional option within a more sustainable funeral service. The precise environmental benefit depends on the installation used, the energy source and the processing of residual flows.
The cabinet has been working on modernising the rules for some time. The official legislative calendar states that a new Act on the Disposal of Deceased Persons would include resomation as a possible form of disposal alongside existing options. However, that page does not mention completed parliamentary consideration or entry into force.
There is therefore an important difference between ‘being included in a bill’ and ‘being permitted’. A company may have equipment ready in the Netherlands, but may not use the technique on deceased people without a legal basis.
The debate touches on several interests. Bereaved relatives may want greater freedom of choice, funeral companies want clarity about investment and supervision, and municipalities and water authorities need to know which rules apply to installations and residual products.
The available official sources do not confirm that the law has changed since the reports in question. The current legal status therefore remains: resomation is not yet permitted in the Netherlands, while legislation is being prepared that could make it possible.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Resomation is currently not permitted in the Netherlands.
- A bill refers to alkaline hydrolysis as a possible new form of disposing of human remains.
- The current rules permit burial and cremation.
Left
Arguments Bereaved relatives should be given greater freedom of choice, and the government should not unnecessarily block sustainable alternatives.
Values Autonomy, sustainability and equal access to new forms of farewell.
Consequences Rapid approval could stimulate innovation, but requires public oversight of environmental impact, safety and affordability.
Centre
Arguments Approval is conceivable, but only after clear standards have been established for the technology, supervision, environmental effects and processing of residual flows.
Values Carefulness, legal certainty and workable regulation.
Consequences A phased introduction could offer freedom of choice without leaving municipalities and the funeral sector facing unclear rules.
Right
Arguments The state should take a restrained approach to personal funeral choices and leave room for entrepreneurship and religious or cultural preferences.
Values Freedom, responsibility and limited government interference.
Consequences Faster legalisation could give the sector clarity, provided basic public health and environmental rules remain in place.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved with corrections · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The current legal status is strongly supported by the Dutch government, the statutory text and the legislative calendar. The original reports that resomation was already being permitted have not been confirmed by official sources and have therefore been toned down.
- confirmed Resomation is not yet permitted in the Netherlands. — This is stated explicitly on the current Dutch government information page. source
- confirmed There is a bill in which resomation is mentioned as a new option. — The legislative calendar refers to alkaline hydrolysis as part of the proposal. source
- confirmed The current Burial and Cremation Act remains the relevant legal basis. — The legislation currently in force has been published on Overheid.nl. source
1 correction(s) applied
- Was: Resomation is being permitted alongside burial and cremation.Now: Resomation is not yet permitted in the Netherlands; a bill must make this possible. (The current official government sources confirm only a bill and not its entry into force.)
Editor's note
The official sources confirm a bill but not its entry into force. Reports of immediate legal permission could not be independently confirmed.Sources
- Wanneer mag ik een overledene laten begraven of cremeren? — Rijksoverheid
- Modernisering Wet op de lijkbezorging — Wetgevingskalender
- Wet op de lijkbezorging — Overheid.nl
More on this in Dutch media
- de Volkskrant — „resomatie lijkbezorging”
- RTL Nieuws — „resomatie lijkbezorging”
- NOS — „resomatie lijkbezorging”