What is possible and what is allowed? All the rules and ideas in a row.
After cremation, there are several ways to keep or scatter the ashes. Some people like to keep (part of) the ashes at home in a special place nearby. Others prefer to scatter the ashes at the cemetery (scattering meadow or scattering forest), have them buried in an urn field or interred in a columbarium at the cemetery.
A few figures
In Flanders, 3 out of 4 deceased people are cremated. In 10 years, the number of cremations increased from 57% to 74%. In 2020, for example, 54,442 cremations were performed in the 12 Flemish crematoria.
Sprinkling
You may choose to scatter your loved one's ashes at the spread of the cemetery. This is also immediately the cheapest method of asbestos disposal, as it is free of charge in Flanders at the cemetery of the deceased's place of residence.
Columbarium
You can interred the ashes of your deceased loved one in a columbarium which is closed with a plaque or natural stone, with the name, date of birth and death of the deceased on it. In Flanders, this is free of charge for a period of 10 years.
Urnfield
One may also opt to bury the urn in a urn field, a field specifically for graves with urns. Each grave can contain one or more urns and is capped with a slab or natural stone.
Urn forest or natural cemetery
You can have the ashes of your loved one included in a urn forest or natural cemetery. These are areas in a nature site where the ashes of the deceased can be scattered or buried in a biodegradable urn. In this way, the deceased is literally given back to nature. Placing a memorial stone there is not allowed.
In the Scheldt or the North Sea
You can have ashes scattered in the North Sea or the Scheldt in a biodegradable or water-soluble urn. This is done through the municipal authorities of a number of Scheldesteden and coastal municipalities. For more information about this, contact your funeral director or funeral director.
Dividing the axis
Each family member of the first and second degree can claim a symbolic portion of the deceased's ashes. Ideal for a mini urn or mourning jewel, for example.
Keeping the ashes at home
Many people choose to use the ashes to take home and to be kept in a beautiful urn.
Do you have a question?
You can call Ram Broekaert of Artemis at +32 476 31 75 60 (including weekends), or a email send. We are happy to help you find a beautiful urn for your loved one.