The cost of a cremation has gone up by €60 to €100 compared to 2022 because of higher energy costs, figures from funeral insurance leader Dela show.

Coffee and cake, a Dutch funeral staple, have also gone up in price. Despite the rising costs, cremation is still the preferred choice of 83% of Dela clients, director Veronique Klaassen told NU.nl.

A cremation uses up some 65 cubic metres of gas while the average household uses 3.4 cubic metres a day.  ‘But cremation is still cheaper than a burial,’ Klaassen said. ‘Councils are also upping their prices for grave stones and grave rights.’

A cremation costs €925 on average compared to €1,500 for a burial. ‘People are not cutting back on costs and the wishes of the deceased is still paramount,’ Klaassen said. ‘Requests for fewer flowers or cars for instance are usually made for sustainability reasons.’

Dela said it is trying to reduce its dependence on gas by phasing out gas ovens and replacing them with electric ones. The company has 46 cremation ovens of which seven are electric. It is aiming to offer climate neutral funerals by 2030.