Cremation costs differ by up to €1,600 across Dutch cities, study finds
A new nationwide study has exposed staggering price disparities across the Netherlands’ funeral industry, revealing that the cost of a simple cremation can vary by as much as 1,600 euros depending on the location. While over 68% of Dutch citizens now choose cremation over burial, research from Uitvaartland.nl shows that grieving families face a "postcode lottery,” where a basic service in Uithoorn costs three times more than the exact same procedure just 40 kilometers away in Almere.
Uitvaartland describes the price gaps for a basic service without additional facilities as “unjustifiable” and urges the government to step in to regulate funeral costs.
Cremation has become the preferred funeral method in the Netherlands, with over 68% of deaths now resulting in cremation. The rate has increased from roughly 50% in 2003, making it the most chosen option in 2025/2026. Research by Uitvaartland has shown that
“Silent cremations,” where no ceremony is held and no family is present, are becoming increasingly popular. Many are choosing informal goodbyes at locations outside traditional funeral venues, such as restaurants or community halls.
Prices have increased significantly for these events. Over the past two years, the cost of some venues has risen by over 25%. A study of all 119 crematoriums shows that a silent cremation in Almere costs 399 euros while the same service costs 1,305 euros in Uithoorn.
The differences are even more significant when it comes to cremations with a chapel. The cheapest area for this was also Almere, at 720 euros per cremation, while people wishing for this will pay 2,375 euros in Lisse. Significant price differences are also seen in the coffee room. For instance, a glass of wine costs 65% more in Lisse than in Tilburg.
Beesd and Maasluis were the second and third cheapest places for a silent cremation, with costs of 510 and 515 euros, respectively. Nijverdal and Appingedam were among the most expensive behind Lisse, the event costs 1,275 euros in Nijverdal and 1,119 euros in Appingedam.
Flevoland offers the lowest average prices for both silent cremations (570 euros) and cremations with a chapel (1,446 euros), while Overijssel is the most expensive in both categories (967 euros and 2,005 euros, respectively). Prices do not correlate strongly with distance: a silent cremation in Almere costs more than 82% less than in nearby Amsterdam, despite being only 20 km away (326 euros difference).
Uitvaartland noted that price comparison can be tricky, as many crematoria do not list their fees online, and extra charges, like ash handling or chapel rental time, are often not disclosed.
