Royal Dutch 'Facultatieve'

The Royal Dutch 'Facultatieve’ was founded in 1874 as the Vereeniging tot invoering der Lijkenverbranding in Nederland (Association for Introduction of Cremation in the Netherlands) with the aim of a free choice between burial and cremation in the Netherlands.

In 1913 in Driehuis (Velsen municipality, North Holland), the Facultatieve built the first crematorium in the Netherlands: the Westerveld Crematorium. The first cremation was carried out here on 1 April 1914 to provoke a test case, since this was illegal at the time. The crematorium was charged, but the court acquitted everyone involved due to the inadequate Begrafeniswet (Funeral Act). From that moment on, cremation was tolerated. But it was 1955 before cremation became officially legal. One year earlier, the Facultatieve had built another Dutch crematorium in Dieren, because more and more people saw cremation in a favourable light.

Emancipation
During its Centenary year in 1974, the Facultatieve was awarded the crowning glory of the ‘Royal’ title due to the important role it had played in promoting the acceptance of cremation in the Netherlands. However, it was not until 1991 (117 years after being founded!) that the law established the equality of burial and cremation. The Royal Dutch 'Facultatieve' not only played an important role in achieving legalisation of cremation, but now also provides essential information about dealing with the human body after death. In 2003, the number of cremations in the Netherlands (slightly) exceeded the number of burials for the first time ever.

Philosophical activities
In order to concentrate fully on philosophical activities, the commercial activities of the Facultatieve were placed within a trading company ('the Facultatieve Group') in 1990. However, the Royal Dutch 'Facultatieve’ continues to commit itself to the advancement of personal choice for everyone between cremation and burial.

Cremation and the Environment
In 1999, the Royal Facultatieve celebrated 125 years of service. The jubilee was commemorated with an international congress on ‘Cremation and the Environment’; always a hot topic. During that year, the Facultatieve also organised the exhibition 'De voelbare leegte' (Tangible emptiness) in the Museon in The Hague.

International contacts 
The Facultatieve is also fostering international contact with
organisations occupied with personal choice between burial and
cremation. The International Cremation Federation (ICF), co-founded by
the Facultatieve, is one of the vehicles serving this purpose. Moreover, the
Royal Dutch 'Facultatieve' also has very strong connections with the, in the same year founded, Society in the UK, the Cremation Society of Great Brittain. 

The future
With nearly 100,000 members, the Royal Dutch 'Facultatieve' has achieved a great deal
in recent years. It will definitely not be resting on its laurels, which
is why various activities are being planned and carried out covering
matters such as information provision, education and alternative methods
for the disposal of the dead. This enables The Royal Dutch 'Facultatieve’ to look very positively to the future.