Natural burial

Natural burial in the Netherlands

'Returning' the deceased to nature is something that humanity has always done. In Viking culture, the deceased were launched into the sea on a boat, a beautiful symbol for a society where life is connected to the sea. On land, the deceased were placed in the earth, and we still do that today. However, many people find a cemetery to have a cold, formal appearance and look for alternatives. However, the deceased may only be buried in a cemetery. Only in exceptional cases can the municipality give permission for burial on private land. You can find more information about this on the website of the Dutch government.

However, there is an alternative to the traditional cemetery, in the form of natural burial. Being buried in nature - for example in the forest - is becoming increasingly popular in the Netherlands. Even if the deceased wishes to be buried without a coffin, natural burial is often chosen. A shroud is then used in combination with a stretcher.

What is natural burial?

A natural burial ground is a specially designated natural area where people may be buried. At a natural burial ground, you will not find rows of gravestones; nature is given free rein. The areas vary from forests to grasslands to even cornfields, and are sometimes located on a lake.

In contrast to a traditional cemetery, no burial site is assigned. A spot in nature can be selected in advance. When a piece of land is reserved for burial, a perpetual burial right usually applies. This right means, among other things, that nature in this area may not be affected for as long as the right lasts. In this way, a natural resting place directly contributes to the preservation and protection of nature. For this reason, gravestones and non-natural grave markers are also not permitted. For the same reason, flowers may no longer be placed at the grave for two weeks after burial. However, the grave may usually be marked with a boulder or tree disk with an inscription. The precise burial site is recorded using GPS coordinates. Even if the grave has been completely returned to nature, relatives can still find the grave using this. Employees of the natural cemetery can help relatives with this.

Most natural burial grounds also offer the option of choosing an urn grave. If the deceased has been cremated, the urn can be buried in the natural burial ground. There is often no urn or scattering field. Ashes contain heavy metals and phosphates, which are too harmful to nature. A natural grave is intended for one person. The ground is only opened once to burden nature as little as possible. It is possible to reserve a grave next to or near each other. It is often wise to do this, to prevent the place next to a loved one from becoming occupied. A place next to someone else can also be reserved later, or an urn can be added to a grave.

The Netherlands currently has 16 natural burial grounds and this number is still growing. The demand increases as more people come into contact with this alternative way of burial. The popularity of the word 'natural burial ground' in Google Trends supports this.

Why do people choose to be buried in nature?

The deceased's wish to be buried in nature often also offers comfort to the surviving relatives. A cemetery in nature is freely accessible and often the area in which the burial takes place is part of a much larger nature reserve. A visit to the grave becomes much less stately if it is combined with, for example, a walk or reading a book. Nature also has a comforting effect for many. The entire landscape at a natural cemetery changes colour with the seasons. In winter it is beautifully quiet while in spring it is full of lively birds. At such a moment, nature itself becomes a place of remembrance. A grave in nature is for everyone, regardless of faith or origin. The grave rest is usually perpetual and because the grave blends in with nature, relatives do not have to carry out maintenance. The costs can also play a role. Since gravestones are not permitted and no payment has to be made for granting the burial rights, the costs are usually low. For the exact rates per natural burial ground.

Rules and regulations

Natural burial grounds value the preservation and development of nature. Each cemetery has regulations to burden the environment as little as possible. The regulations are therefore very focused on nature conservation. Coffins, biers and urns must be made of naturally degradable material. At Wikkelgoed you will therefore mainly find shrouds and biers made of natural materials. Always inquire at the cemetery you have in mind, especially when there are prostheses or a pacemaker.

Not only the funeral articles, but also the clothing of the deceased is preferably, and usually even mandatory, naturally biodegradable. Usually this means that the clothing must be undyed, because paint often contains chemical components. If fabric is colored with natural dyes, this is of course no problem at all. Examples of non-synthetic fabrics are linen, cotton, silk, wool, hemp fabric and bamboo fabric. Also take into account the fact that zippers, buttons and Velcro are not always desirable. If a natural burial site is chosen, and you are considering whether or not a certain piece of clothing is suitable, look at the label to see what it is made of, and contact the cemetery you have in mind. If there is no longer a label in the garment, you can consider calling the manufacturer, or showing the clothes to someone at the natural burial site. The person in charge of this aspect of the cemetery often has a lot of knowledge about fabrics.

From the same concern for nature, large stone grave markers are also not permitted. If the area were to be full of gravestones, the natural character of the cemetery would be lost and it would be harmful to the environment. The cemeteries therefore often offer various alternatives, such as a tree disk, boulder or plant, but sometimes the graves remain completely unmarked. As for laying flowers, it is usually the case that flowers may no longer be laid at a grave two weeks after the funeral.

Allowing the vegetation to grow freely fits in with the essence of burial in nature. Of course, accessibility for visitors is always taken into account. There are clear – often partly paved – paths, partly to prevent damage to vegetation. For relatives who have difficulty walking, some cemeteries offer transport.

Most natural burial grounds are open from sunrise to sunset. Some cemeteries have an opening time of 10:00 to 18:00, so that there is always someone present for maintenance and safety reasons. In the weekend, there are often shorter opening hours, just like on public holidays. These times differ per cemetery, so when you visit a cemetery, it is best to consult the website.

Criticism of natural burial grounds

With the arrival of more natural burial grounds, resistance is also growing. Some people fear that an existing nature area will become inaccessible. In addition, selling burial rights in nature is seen by some as a profit model in which nature does not come first. Critics also question the environmentally friendly aspect. However, there are studies that show that the impact on the environment is negligible.

Natural burial grounds that are affiliated with the trade association Brana must also be certified as nature managers. This trade association monitors the effects of natural burial on nature and maintains contacts with governments and interest groups. A separate page is dedicated to the nature-friendly aspect of burial in nature. More information about this can be found on the page Are natural burial grounds environmentally friendly?