Renske (not her real name) is deeply saddened when her husband passes away. She cared for him for months during his illness. Now that he is gone, it feels like the ground beneath her feet is sinking away. When she goes through his papers, she is shocked: her husband had no funeral insurance, no savings, but stacks of bills. Renske realizes she has no money to pay for his cremation and feels panic rising.
That same day, she contacts the municipality. She explains that she has no money for her husbands cremation, who is now in the mortuary. Days pass, but there is no response. Then she learns that in the Netherlands, it is mandatory to bury or cremate a deceased person within six working days. Only after the six-day period has passed does she hear that the municipality will advance €4,600 for a modest cremation. Meanwhile, the mortuary informs her that her husband cannot stay there too long and that the costs increase daily. The pressure on Renske grows by the day.
Costs Increase
When she calls the funeral director to tell him what she can afford, she is told it is not possible for that amount. Due to the delay, costs have risen. Another attempt with the municipality yields nothing. She is told the municipality no longer knows what to do. Her husband has now been in the mortuary for over three weeks. She feels utterly powerless. The bills pile up, and she cannot arrange a dignified farewell for the man she loved so long.
Can Gerda Still Say Goodbye?
In despair, she calls the National Ombudsman. Employee Dionne immediately contacts the municipality. Fortunately, that helps. Renske is called back quickly. A solution finally emerges: the municipality advances the costs, and her husband is transferred to another mortuary where he can stay with dignity until the cremation. For the first time in weeks, Renske can breathe a sigh of relief. She now has a date to say goodbye. Renske can finally slowly close this painful chapter.
Need for Help and Understanding
I am glad the municipality took responsibility after all. Because someone who has just lost her husband needs help and understanding above all. When someone is in such a difficult situation, a municipality must respond quickly and think along well. Human contact is more important than rules or procedures.
This column appeared in De Telegraaf on November 22, 2025. The person in the photo is not the person from the text.
