Death records are a part of the civil registration. A death record lists the following data:

• Place, date and time of death
• Names of parents
• Names of spouses
• Name, profession and age of the one registering the birth
• Names, profession and age of the witnesses
• Often: address where the death took place

Within a few working days, every death has to be registered in the municipality it occurs. This means there can be a difference of a few days between the document date and the actual death date.

Many deaths are registered by close family members or neighbors. Two male witnesses are required at the registration. These are often neighbors, although sometimes family members can be seen as well.

Sometimes a death took place in a different place than where the person lived. Such deaths are often registered in the place of residence as well. An abstract of the official death certificate is then copied into the death register of the place of residence.

Stillborn children are registered in the death records. They are usually called "levenloos kind" (lifeless child), "levenloze dochter" (lifeless daughter) or "levenloze zoon" (lifeless son).

Example

Example of a death record

Where to find

Death records are public after 50 years. Death records can be found at both the provincial archives and local archives. Many death records are available online in the website Genlias.