© Joris Herregods
In the future it will also be possible in Flanders to be buried together with your pet. This is stated in an amendment to the decree on cemeteries that was approved in the Flemish Parliament on Wednesday. The decree by Minister of the Interior Gwendolyn Rutten (Open VLD) stops subsidies for new crematoria and makes it possible for friends to take the ashes of the deceased home in the future.
The Flemish Parliament gave the green light on Wednesday to an adjustment to the rules regarding cemeteries and funeral services. The intention is for the new rules to come into effect before the summer.
This includes ending subsidies for new crematoria. According to N-VA MP Paul Van Miert, the existing crematoria are “area-wide”. “It is not necessary to build new crematoria, so it is wise to stop existing subsidies for this. In the future we will make it possible for private players to participate in crematoria.”
It will also be possible for friends to take the ashes of a deceased person home. “We note that more and more people are living single and sometimes die without immediate family. In that case, it is often good friends who arrange the funeral. That is why we make it possible for non-blood relatives who wish to do so to be able to take the ashes of their deceased boyfriend or girlfriend home with them,” Minister Rutten explains.
The approved text also provides an addition to what one can include in the last will and testament, for example that one wants to donate one’s body to science.
At the initiative of MPs Bart Tommelein (Open VLD), Paul Van Miert (N-VA) and Katrien Schryvers (CD&V), a number of additional provisions were also included. For example, it is expressly provided that the municipal council can provide that the urn of a previously deceased spouse or partner can be buried with the spouse or partner who dies or can be interred in an urn field or columbarium.
Owner and animal
Another striking change gives the municipal council the opportunity to allow urns containing the ashes of previously deceased and cremated pets to be placed in the grave of their owner.
A similar arrangement already exists in Wallonia. Initiator Stephanie D’Hose (Open VLD) is pleased that this is now being followed in Flanders: “We all know someone who is very happy with the idea that this will soon become possible. Many people have a hard time emotionally when their favorite companion animal dies. They want to be able to honor the animal with respect. Sharing not only life together, but also the final resting place, reassures many people.”
CD&V MP Katrien Schryvers points out a number of preconditions. “For example, the urn containing the ashes of the pet must be non-biodegradable, so that mixing of ashes is certainly avoided, and it is not permitted to scatter the ashes in the municipal cemetery, even if it is later evacuated.”