Nearly eight in ten deceased Flemings cremated

78 per cent of deceased Flemings were cremated in 2023, reported Flemish public broadcaster VRT. In the Brussels-Capital Region, the share of cremations declined significantly between 2011 and 2021.

In total, more than 75,000 Belgians were cremated last year, shows an analysis of figures from the United Network of Public Crematoria (VNOC) and the intermunicipal organisation Neomansio. 50,000 of the cremated persons were from Flanders, more than 20,000 from Wallonia and just under 5,000 from the Brussels-Capital Region.

According to the VNOC and Neomansio, 68 per cent of the deceased in Belgium had opted for cremation. There are however striking differences between the various regions. In Flanders, 78 per cent of the deceased had chosen to be cremated. In Wallonia and the Brussels-Capital Region, this was the case for 54 per cent and 56 per cent of the deceased respectively. Figures from the VNOC show that the proportion of cremations in the three regions has increased over the past year.

Decline in Brussels

VRT however found that specifically in the Brussels-Capital Region, the share of cremations declined significantly between 2011 and 2021. There are two explanations for this evolution.

“On the one hand, several crematoria have been added around Brussels in recent years and Brussels residents who choose a crematorium outside their region thus end up in the figures for Flanders or Wallonia,” explained Tom Wustenberghs, president of the VNOC, to VRT. “Another important explanation is the large Muslim community in Brussels. According to Islamic religious rules, it is not allowed to cremate deceased people.”

In Wallonia, the distinction between cities and the countryside plays a role. “In densely populated areas, the proportion of cremations is higher. In rural areas, people think more traditionally about funerals.”

^{#FlandersNewsService | Urn at the Westlede crematorium in Lochristi © BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE}