Cremations
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Scatter the ashes in a cemetery, at home or at sea
The scattering of ashes in a graveyard of your choice is a free service provided by the municipal services.
When scattering the ashes at home, you must sign an “Admission to scattering the ashes at home” application. This request is made by the funeral director and will be submitted to the municipality where you live so that they can grant permission.
If you have adult children together with the deceased, all legal children must give their written approval for this. If the last of both parents has died, all legal children of the deceased must also give written consent.
A scattering of the ashes at sea can be accompanied, if desired, with a small ceremony at sea in the presence of the family! The scattering is done according to the law, in consultation with the municipal service of Ostend or Nieuwpoort. The costs for the tax and the rent of the boat vary from € 650 to € 850.
Scattering of the ashes at sea takes on average 1.5 to 2 hours (departure and return). Departures are possible from the beginning of March to the end of September and only after reservation through the funeral director! Whether a planned scattering can take place on the reserved day and the hour depends on the weather conditions. Only the captain can make this decision.
In addition to the family, a municipal official will also accompany you. Of course you will be informed the day before if everything can continue as planned
Placing the urn in the columbarium at the cemetery
If you opt for placeing the urn in the columbarium in a graveyard of your choice, this will be requested from the relevant municipal service.
You can opt to purchase a new columbarium (usually for 2 people) or, if you already have a columbarium, request the addition of an urn. In the latter case, the extension of the current duration of the concession may be an option in view of the compulsory burial of 10 years (also valid for cremation).
Extension/renewal of the concession
In both cases, the owner of the columbarium can renew the concession period if it has expired, according to the terms and rates valid at that time. The municipality sets these periods and rates.
Attention: If the deceased is not a resident of the municipality/graveyard that you have chosen, you may have to pay a tax or purchase the columbarium at the non-resident rate!
Storing the urn at home
Permission to store the urn at home
If you wish to store the ashes at home, you must sign an “Admission to store the ashes at home” application. This request is made by the funeral director and is submitted to the municipality where you live so that they can grant permission.
If you are not the owner of the property at the address where the urn will be stored, you must have written permission from the owner of the property.
If you have adult children together with the deceased, all legal children must give their written approval for this. If the last of both parents has died, all legal children of the deceased must also give written consent.
If for emotional or practical reasons, you can no longer cope with storing the urn at home, you can request a revision for final destination in the relevant municipality. Saving the urn at home is therefore not irreversible!
Interment of the urn in a cemetery
If you opt for the interment of the urn at the graveyard of your choice, this will be requested from the relevant municipal service.
Extension/renewal of the concession
In the latter case, the extension of the current duration of the concession may be an option in view of the compulsory burial of 10 years (also valid for cremation).
In both cases, the owner of the tomb can renew the concession period if it has expired, according to the terms and rates valid at that time. The municipality sets these periods and rates.
New: Instead of a large grave / burial plot you can also purchase an urn garden or urn cellar at a graveyard of your choice. You may have noticed these smaller graves in the cemetery.
Attention: If the deceased is not a resident of the municipality/graveyard that you have chosen, you may have to pay a tax or purchase the tomb, burial plot or urn garden at the non-resident rate!
Interring the urn at home
Permission to inter the urn at home
If you wish to inter the ashes at home, you must sign an “Admission to inter the ashes at home” application. This request is made by the funeral director and is submitted to the municipality where you live so that they can grant permission.
If you are not the owner of the property at the address where the urn will be interred, you must have written permission from the owner of the property.
If you have adult children together with the deceased, all legal children must give their written approval for this. If the last of both parents has died, all legal children of the deceased must also give written consent.
If for emotional or practical reasons, you can no longer cope with storing the urn at home, you can request a revision for final destination in the relevant municipality. Saving the urn at home is therefore not irreversible!