Stillborn child or deceased newborn child
If your baby was born lifeless or died shortly after birth, you can make your own declaration of death at City Hall. The funeral director can also do this for you.
It is also possible to register children born lifeless (stillborn children) in the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP). This is not mandatory. With this registration, your stillborn child is visible to you via MijnOverheid.nl and on an extract from the BRP.
Registration in Basic Registration of Persons (BRP).
Register
You make the request for registration in the municipality where you live. Do you live in Zoetermeer? Then call 14 079 to make an appointment.
It may happen that your baby's names are not on the certificate of birth (lifeless) or certificate of lifeless child. Then you provide the names with your request for registration in the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP). So parents can provide different names separately. This is no problem in this situation.
You can make the request if you lived in the Netherlands at the time of the birth and were registered in the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP). It does not matter when your child was born or how long the pregnancy lasted (this also applies to a miscarriage).
You can register your child in the BRP only for yourself. Because it is a very personal situation, you cannot do this on behalf of the other parent. Besides yourself, only the registrar can view this registration. Other government agencies will not receive any information about your lifeless baby.
Bring to the appointment
To the appointment you bring with you:
- A valid identification document.
- A certificate of birth (lifeless) or a certificate of child born lifeless*.
* Do you not yet have the certificate and was your child born in Zoetermeer? Then the deed can be drawn up during the appointment to register a child who was born lifeless. Was your child not born in Zoetermeer? Then you must have the deed drawn up in the municipality where your child was born.
Was your baby born abroad? Then bring additional:
- Documents of birth, such as a deed prepared abroad stating that your baby was born lifeless.
Is it difficult for you to get these documents? If so, please report this to the municipality. Because this is a very personal situation, the rules are handled leniently and understandingly. You can then make a declaration about the birth of your baby at the municipality.
How long will it take?
Within 4 weeks after you submit the request, we will send you a letter confirming the registration.
Declaration of death
How does it work?
Your child was born lifeless
You report the birth in the municipality where your child was born. The municipality prepares "a certificate of birth (lifeless).
Your child has lived a short life
Was your child born and died in the same municipality? Then you file the declaration of birth and the declaration of death there. Did your child die in another municipality? Then you file the declaration of death there.
Permission (leave) for burial or cremation
To bury or cremate your child, you need permission (leave) from us. You will receive this leave immediately upon reporting your child's death.
When is permission (leave) not required?
If the pregnancy was less than 24 weeks. You can get a leave of absence in this situation. Call us at 14 079 for more information.
Postponement of burial or cremation
Sometimes it is not possible to bury or cremate someone within 6 days of their death. You can then request a postponement from the mayor. Usually the funeral director arranges this postponement.
Declaration of death
You make an appointment online for declaration of death.
Would you like us to receive you in a separate room during the appointment? Then make an appointment by phone. Call us at 14 079 and discuss this when making the appointment.
To the appointment you bring with you:
- Your passport, ID card or driver's license.
If you need permission (leave) for burial/cremation also bring:
- A certificate of death. You will receive this certificate from the doctor.
Costs
You pay the fee at the time of the declaration of death. At the counter, you can only pay by debit card or cash.
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| transcript (excerpt) of civil status | € 16,60 |
| delayed burial/cremation | € 13,50 |
Price changes and typographical errors reserved.
How long will it take?
The death certificate will be prepared immediately.
Information for funeral directors
Online declaration of death
Are you a funeral director? Then you can also file a death certificate online. You do not have to come to the town hall. To make the declaration you need eRecognition level 2+. You can apply for this on the website E-recognition.
Evidence documents
Submit supporting documents, such as a doctor's statement, online with the tax return. You will send the original, signed documents later by mail. You may "save up" these documents and send them once a week to:
Municipality of Zoetermeer
Department of Civil Status
PO Box 15
2700 AA ZOETERMEER
Receiving leave online
Permission for burial or cremation is obtained online in a secure environment.
Do you file your declaration before 11 a.m.? Then you will receive the leave and death certificate by 3 p.m. the same business day by e-mail. We will send the original version of the leave and death certificate by mail.
Costs
You pay the fee at the time of the declaration of death. At the counter, you can only pay by debit card or cash.
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| transcript (excerpt) of civil status | € 16,60 |
| delayed burial/cremation | € 13,50 |
Price changes and typographical errors reserved.