Mors Neerlandica (pre-sale until October 23th. 2026)

Is there such a thing as a distinctly Dutch way of dealing with death and the dead? In Mors Neerlandica, scholars and practitioners explore how dying, saying goodbye and remembrance take shape in the Netherlands.

Through compelling case studies, concise reflections and evocative photographs, death unfolds as a multifaceted and sometimes unpredictable process. From the final stage of life, including questions surrounding euthanasia and a completed life, to farewell and funeral. Funerals take many forms; recent practices and developments such as natural burial, water cremation, human composting and alternative destinations for ashes are all discussed. The period of grief and remembrance also receives extensive attention, including grief in children, cemetery rituals, mourning trails and a growing palette of new (digital) mourning practices.

Mors Neerlandica is a timely, informative and reflective book that invites conversation and deeper understanding, showing how in the Netherlands, between tradition and trend, we navigate dying and loss.

Photo’s: Hein Athmer