The difference between the cost of cremation in the cheapest part of the Netherlands and the most expensive is €579, according to research by funeral insurance company Monuta.

Drenthe, Flevoland and Gelderland are the most expensive places to opt for a cremation, while the cheapest deal – €406 – can be found in Amsterdam. The figures are based on a survey of 1,684 cemeteries and 84 crematoria.

Last year, 65% of relatives opted for a cremation, due in part of the cost of burial. That ranges for €7,308 for a 30-year lease on a grave in Groningen, to €733 in Losser in Overijssel, for a 20-year lease.

The shortage of space means graveyards are scarce – so most people tend to ‘rent’ a grave for 10 or 20 years. After that, unless the family pays a further fee, the remains will be cleared out and placed in a mass grave.

Informal

A survey published earlier this year by funeral insurance comparison website Uitvaartverzekeringswijzer found more people are opting for an informal and intimate funeral followed by ‘a toast to life’.

Some 70% of the 2,300 respondents said they favoured cremation over burial, largely because it is expensive and they don’t want to burden their families with the upkeep of the grave.

Cremation is most popular with the 18 to 30 age group: 84.2% said to prefer cremation compared to 42.5% of the over 75s.