Where to bury a funeral urn with a tree in Germany

Forest Allemande

In Germany, there are specific legal regulations regarding the burial of an urn containing cremation ashes in connection with a tree. These regulations vary by federal state but generally follow the burial laws of each region. Here are the key regulations:

 

Recommendations

 

1. Cemetery Obligation (Burial Requirement)

Germany has a cemetery obligation, meaning that the ashes of a deceased person may only be buried in a cemetery or an officially approved burial site (e.g., a burial forest).
Exception: In Bremen, under certain conditions, it is permitted to scatter ashes on private property or at a chosen location.

 

2. Tree Burial (Burial Forest & Cemetery)

Burying an urn with a tree is only allowed in officially designated burial sites in Germany. These include:

  1. Burial Forests
    • FriedWald®, RuheForst®, and similar natural cemeteries are legally approved burial sites.
    • The urn must be biodegradable.
  2. Tree Burials in Cemeteries
    • Many cemeteries now offer tree burials in specially designated areas.
    • The burial takes place within the cemetery grounds, often in natural surroundings.

 

3. Urn Requirements & Material Regulations

  • Only biodegradable urns (e.g., made of wood, cellulose, salt, or sandstone) are usually permitted for tree burials.
  • The urn should decompose naturally, allowing the ashes to integrate into the ecosystem.

 

4. Burial on Private Property

  • Burying an urn with a tree on private property is prohibited in most German states.
  • Exceptions are rare and require a special permit from authorities, usually granted for historical or family tradition reasons.
  • In Bremen, under specific conditions, ashes can be scattered on private property, indirectly allowing their use in connection with a tree.

 

5. Ash Scattering & “Memory Trees”

  • An alternative is ash scattering, which is allowed in some regions under specific conditions (e.g., Bremen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamburg).
  • Some people use “memory trees”, where ashes are mixed with soil, and a tree is planted—however, this is often legally problematic in Germany unless done in an approved burial site.

 

 

Hier ist eine Übersicht darüber, wo in Deutschland die Bestattung einer Urne mit einem Baum erlaubt ist, sowie eine Liste von Beratungs- und Aufsichtsbehörden, bei denen Sie weitere Informationen einholen können.

 

 

1. Federal States in Germany Where Urn Burial with a Tree is Allowed

In Germany, burying an urn with ashes under a tree is only permitted on approved burial sites. These include:

a) Burial Forests (FriedWald®, RuheForst®, and similar sites)

These exist in almost all federal states. Examples:

  • Baden-Württemberg: Several FriedWald and RuheForst locations
  • Bavaria: FriedWald Bayerischer Spessart, RuheForst Coburger Land
  • Berlin & Brandenburg: FriedWald Nuthetal, RuheForst Fläming
  • Hesse: FriedWald Weilrod, RuheForst Burgwald
  • Lower Saxony: FriedWald Südheide, RuheForst Rotenburg
  • North Rhine-Westphalia: FriedWald Schloss Dyck, RuheForst Siegen-Wittgenstein
  • Saxony: FriedWald Oberlausitz, RuheForst Tharandt
  • Thuringia: FriedWald Eisenberg, RuheForst Südharz

Tip: A complete list of FriedWald locations is available on the official website: www.friedwald.de
RuheForst locations can be found here: www.ruheforst.de

b) Cemeteries with Tree Burial Areas

  • Many municipal and church cemeteries now offer tree burials.
  • Examples include:
    • Munich: Waldfriedhof
    • Hamburg: Ohlsdorf Cemetery
    • Cologne: Nordfriedhof
    • Frankfurt: Hauptfriedhof
    • Leipzig: Südfriedhof

Tip: Check with your local cemetery office for natural burial options.

 

2. Federal States with More Flexible Burial Rules

Bremen (Ash Scattering Allowed)

  • Since 2015, Bremen has been the only German state that allows free scattering of ashes.
  • Relatives can scatter ashes on private property or designated areas.
  • This indirectly makes it possible to combine ashes with a tree.

North Rhine-Westphalia & Hamburg (Case-by-Case Decisions)

  • In some cases, special permits are granted for alternative burial forms.
  • Hamburg has cemeteries with natural burial areas that offer more flexible rules for tree burials.

Tip: If you need an exception, always contact the local burial office.

 

3. Advisory and Regulatory Authorities

If you are planning an urn burial with a tree, you can contact the following authorities:

a) Burial & Municipal Offices

  • Each federal state has its own burial law. The responsible municipal administration or regulatory office can provide information on regional rules.
  • Contact your city or municipality’s burial office.

Example Links:

b) Cemetery & Church Administrations

  • Many cemeteries have their own regulations for tree burials.
  • Church administrations (Evangelical & Catholic) often manage cemeteries and can provide information.

c) State Ministries & Funeral Law Authorities

  • Burial laws fall under the jurisdiction of state ministries of the interior.
  • Some ministries have online information portals on alternative burial forms.

Examples of State Ministries:

d) Consumer Protection Agencies & Funeral Associations

  • Consumer protection agencies can provide advice on burial options.
  • The German Funeral Association (Bundesverband Deutscher Bestatter – BDB) offers funeral home searches & information.

Useful Links:

 

Conclusion:

Burying an urn with ashes and a tree in Germany is only allowed in designated burial sites (e.g., cemeteries, FriedWald®, RuheForst®). It is not permitted on private property in most federal states. The urn must be biodegradable. Bremen has more relaxed regulations for ash scattering.

  • The burial of an urn with a tree is only allowed on approved burial sites.
  • In most federal states, this is only permitted in cemeteries or burial forests (e.g., FriedWald, RuheForst).
  • Bremen is the only federal state that allows free scattering of ashes, making an ash-tree connection possible.
  • For exact information, contact the local burial office, cemetery administration, or state ministry of the interior.

 

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