When someone dies, you do not need to solve every administrative issue at once. Start with the death registration and funeral arrangements, identify who is authorised to act, then work through the deceased person’s administration systematically.

First practical sequence

  1. Have the death formally established and make sure the death is registered. A funeral director can often handle the municipal registration.
  2. Arrange burial or cremation and check whether there is funeral insurance or a recorded wish.
  3. Identify the will/executor and determine who can deal with the estate before distributing or cancelling assets.
  4. Work through bank accounts, housing, insurance, subscriptions, pension, tax and benefits.
  5. Check survivor benefits/pensions and any cross-border estate or repatriation issues.

Useful Dutch words

overlijden, overlijdensakte, aangifte van overlijden, nabestaanden, uitvaart, begrafenis, crematie, testament, executeur, erfenis/nalatenschap, erfgenaam.

Use the official personalised checklist

Government.nl provides an “After a death” route/checklist. Use it as the administrative backbone, especially because the exact tasks depend on the deceased person’s family, housing, income, pension and estate.