Study by University of Antwerp shows openness to aquamation alongside burial and cremation
Nearly nine in ten people in Flanders (Belgium) believe they should be free to choose how they say their final goodbye, whether through burial, cremation or new forms of funeral such as aquamation. That is the outcome of academic research conducted by University of Antwerp among 3,275 residents of Flanders. Aquamation is an alternative funeral method in which the body is not cremated or buried, but is instead broken down in an accelerated process in a cylinder filled with warm water. One in five people in Flanders would consider aquamation if the method were legally permitted. The study shows that societal support in Flanders for making such new options available alongside existing forms of funeral is clearly growing.
The results of the study align with developments that the funeral sector has observed for some time. In Flanders, around 65,000 people die each year, more than 75% of whom are cremated. While burial was the norm for decades, an increasing number of Flemish people are opting for cremation. Over a period of ten years, the share of cremations in Flanders rose from 63% in 2013 to 78% in 2023.
“The way we say goodbye is changing along with society”, says Tom Wustenberghs, Managing Director of Pontes. “Our goal is not to persuade people to choose aquamation. What we want is for families to have more options. Aquamation can be an additional option alongside burial and cremation, so that everyone can choose the form of farewell that suits them best.”
Positive attitude but also a need for information
The University of Antwerp survey shows that 40% of people in Flanders already have a positive to very positive attitude towards aquamation, across all ages and genders. Around one third (34%) are neutral. When asked whether they would consider aquamation if it were legally permitted, one in five (18%) state that they would indeed consider it. At the same time, almost half of the respondents (48%) indicate they are currently not sufficiently informed to make a decision.
According to the researchers, this clearly indicates that in addition to openness there is also a need for accurate information.
“Our study shows there is indeed a growing level of societal support for aquamation in Flanders”, says Professor Sarah Van de Velde, who is affiliated with University of Antwerp’s Department of Sociology. “What stands out is that there is no principled opposition to aquamation. Any hesitation that exists is mainly linked to personal feelings, questions about the ecological or financial aspects, or how relatives might feel about it. At the same time, we see a large group of people indicating they are not sufficiently informed, which shows the debate is still evolving.” The study shows that currently 24% of people in Flanders are already familiar with aquamation.
Freedom of choice is key
The study primarily highlights the great importance the Flemish attach to freedom of choice. Nearly nine in ten respondents believe residents should be free to choose between different forms of funeral. Only a small minority (3%) disagree.
It is precisely this principle that forms the basis for Pontes. Wustenberghs: “Funerals today are much more personal than they used to be. What matters most to people is the personal meaning of the farewell, the practical convenience for relatives and the bereaved, and affordability. Tradition and religion are not as important as they once were. In such a context, it is logical that the available options are also evolving.”
Cautious introduction towards 2028
Pontes currently positions itself as a pioneer in the Benelux in the field of aquamation. At the end of October 2025, Pontes introduced Belgium’s first aquamation unit in Wilrijk, an important step in a pilot project that represents an innovation for the Belgian funeral sector.
Aquamation is a funeral technique in which the body is broken down through alkaline hydrolysis. In this process, the body is placed in a sealed cylinder filled with warm water and potassium hydroxide. Under high pressure and at a temperature between 150 and 160 degrees, the body breaks down naturally. After four hours, a porous skeletal structure remains which, as with cremation, is processed into ashes and returned to the bereaved. For families, the experience of the farewell changes very little.
Internationally, this technique is already used in countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. In Flanders, aquamation is currently still being studied as part of the Pontes pilot project, in collaboration with universities and research institutions. Researchers from KU Leuven are working, among other things, on microbiological safety and the breakdown of pathogens, while the University of Antwerp is studying the environmental and ecological aspects.
Pontes hopes, depending on the research results and the legal framework, to be able to offer aquamation as a new funeral option in Flanders in the course of 2028. “We believe that innovation in the funeral sector must always start from respect, scientific evidence and societal dialogue”, concludes Wustenberghs. As a public organisation, we have a role to play and, together with our partners, we aim to innovate in a careful and considered way. This study shows that Flanders is receptive to this.”