Ashes transport guide
Bringing ashes home from Bonaire
You have ashes in Bonaire and need to bring them home. This page covers what Bonaire requires before they can leave.
Quick reference
What does Bonaire require before ashes can leave?
No cremation facility on Bonaire. Remains must be transferred to Curaçao or the Netherlands for cremation.
Routing from Bonaire: Bonaire is a special municipality of the Netherlands (BES island, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba), meaning it is legally part of the Netherlands itself, not a separate country. Dutch law applies. Repatriation follows Netherlands legal procedures. KLM operates direct BON to AMS flights. UK consular assistance via British Embassy The Hague; Honorary Consul in Willemstad, Curaçao can provide closer support.
Departure airports: Flamingo Airport (BON): direct flights to Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) ~9h via KLM; connections via Aruba (AUA) ~30 min or Curaçao (CUR) ~20 min for further routing
Documentation language: Papiamentu; Dutch; English
Authority that must release the case: Public Entity Bonaire (Openbaar Lichaam Bonaire); Dutch Caribbean Police Force (KPCN); Court of First Instance Bonaire Sint Eustatius Saba (BES Islands); Civil Registry Bonaire
The rules that apply on any route, and what you may do with ashes once home, are covered in bringing ashes into the UK.
What are the airline rules for carrying ashes?
If you are connecting through a third country on this routing, that country's rules apply to the transit as well, and should be checked separately.
What does Bonaire require to export ashes?
Cremation availability
Cremation may be restricted or unavailable in Bonaire due to religious or legal reasons. If you are dealing with ashes from a previous cremation held elsewhere, the export rules may differ. Contact us for guidance specific to your situation.
What affects the cost?
Carrying ashes home yourself is the least expensive way to bring someone back from Bonaire, and for many families it costs little more than the return flight they are already taking. We do not publish a figure, because what you pay depends on the case.
| What changes the cost | Why |
|---|---|
| Whether the cremation has already taken place | Arranging it locally adds funeral director and crematorium involvement |
| Where the death happened | Distance to the nearest crematorium changes local transfer |
| Carrying versus shipping | Hand luggage costs nothing extra; a specialist courier is a separate arrangement |
| Documentation Bonaire requires | Export permits and translation, where they apply |
Send us the details of your situation and we will give you a figure, with no obligation.
Full repatriation guide
Complete guide: repatriation from Bonaire
Official support
British Embassy in Bonaire: contacts and what consular staff can do
Need guidance?
We can help with ashes transport
We deal with Public Entity Bonaire (Openbaar Lichaam Bonaire); Dutch Caribbean Police Force (KPCN); Court of First Instance Bonaire Sint Eustatius Saba (BES Islands); Civil Registry Bonaire and the local crematorium directly.
Send an enquiryFurther guidance
Sources: FCDO: death abroad · FCDO travel advice · Repatriation from Bonaire
More on ashes and cremation abroad
Bringing ashes home from Bonaire
Tell us where the ashes are now and where home is. We will explain what is needed and send you a quote. We send ashes home to the UK, Ireland or any other country.