Aquamation, a new way of saying goodbye

A third funeral option in Flanders?

Saying goodbye is an intense and personal moment. Everyone does it in his or her own way - in line with who someone was and what feels comforting for the bereaved. In addition to burial and cremation, we are investigating a third option in Flanders: aquamation, also known as resomation. This innovative method offers a gentle, natural way to say goodbye.

Pontes is working on a pilot project to make aquamation also possible in Flanders. Aquamation is expected to be possible in Flanders from 2028.

Aquamation is the same as resomation, a term that is also used for this process. Pontes prefers the more evocative term aquamation.

What is resomation?

Aquamation is a funeral technique in which the body is decomposed in water instead of fire (as in cremation) or earth (as in burial). The process is called alkaline hydrolysis and gently accelerates the natural breakdown of tissue in a closed, controlled environment. What takes years with burial takes an average of four hours with aquamation.

How does this process works in practice? The body – wrapped in a natural shroud of uncoloured wool – is placed in a sealed metal cylinder containing a mixture of 95% hot water and 5% potassium hydroxide (base). The liquid is heated to 150 to 160°C and kept under pressure (so that the liquid does not boil). Afterwards, a white, porous skeleton remains, which – as with cremation – is ground into ashes.

What does this mean for the next of kin?

For the next of kin, little changes in terms of the funeral itself. You can still choose a farewell ceremony according to your wishes, with or without a coffin. The deceased is prepared with the same care and discretion as for a burial or cremation. Afterwards, the next of kin receive an urn with the ashes, which they can place in a meaningful location.

Why choose aquamation?

Aquamation offers an additional option within the existing range of funeral services, with characteristics that better suit some people's personal preferences.

Gentle and serene: no flames, no smoke – just silence and water. Many people experience water as a more natural symbol of peace and letting go.
Ecological: significantly lower CO₂ emissions than cremation, without burning fossil fuels.
Energy efficient: significantly lower energy consumption.
Clean and safe: no impact on the soil
Space-saving: no grave space required

Aquamation worldwide

Although aquamation is new in Flanders, it has been practised in other parts of the world for some time. In the United States, aquamation is permitted in more than 30 states. Ireland opened Europe's first aquamation centre. In the Netherlands, legal recognition is in preparation. And the United Kingdom is working on legislation and infrastructure, including through the Kindly Earth initiative. Flanders will soon join this evolution.

Flanders as a pioneer

Pontes is currently building the first aquamation centre in Flanders, in Wilrijk. Just like a crematorium, this will be a warm, serene place where people can say goodbye in peace. To this end, we are working together with the universities of KU Leuven and UAntwerpen, which are providing scientific support for the process, and with the environmental specialists of VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research) and VMM (Flemish Environment Agency). The construction and design are being supervised by sustainability consultant Bopro. At the same time, we are running a pilot project in which we are working with our partners to map out the operation, legislation and social acceptance of aquamation.

“We want to pave the way for a new, fully-fledged funeral option. Aquamation offers the opportunity to say goodbye in a conscious and gentle way – in line with how people have lived their lives. It is not a replacement, but an addition to what already exists. A future-oriented, natural and serene way to say goodbye.”

Tom Wustenberghs

Managing Director of Pontes

Timing of the pilot project *

September 2025: completion of construction of the aquamation centre in Wilrijk

Early October 2025: delivery of the aquamator

Autumn 2025: start of the pilot project with the first trial aquamations

Spring 2026: scientific evaluation by KU Leuven, UAntwerpen and VITO

Autumn 2026: finalisation of environmental legislation and legal approval

In 2027: development of legislative framework

From 2028: first aquamations possible in Flanders

* These are provisional working/target dates and are subject to change.

What happens during aquamation?

1. The body is placed in the cylinder

The body is wrapped in a natural shroud made of uncoloured wool and placed in a specially designed pressure vessel. This metal cylinder is completely sealed.

2. Addition of water and potassium hydroxide

The cylinder is filled with a mixture of 95% hot water and 5% potassium hydroxide. This process is called alkaline hydrolysis and helps to break down the body in a natural way.

3. Heating to 150-160°C under high pressure

The liquid is heated to 150-160°C and kept under pressure. This prevents the liquid from boiling and the water from evaporating.

4. Formation of a porous skeleton

After an average of four hours, a white, porous skeleton remains. This is comparable to what would remain after many years of natural decomposition in the earth.

5. Processing into ash remains

The remains are rinsed, dried and ground into ash. The relatives receive the urn with the ash remains.

Frequently asked questions

Is the body dissolved in acid?

No. No acid is used, but rather a mild alkaline solution based on potassium hydroxide – a substance that is also found in small quantities in cleaning products and beauty products. The process of aquamation is similar to what happens naturally in the earth, but faster and in a controlled environment.

Is aquamation safe?

Yes. The process takes place in a completely closed and sterile facility.

Is aquamation suitable for everyone?

In principle, yes, although there are technical limitations to the size of the aquamator. The maximum body weight is around 150 kilograms and the length must not exceed 2 metres.

Is aquamation more expensive than cremation?

At Pontes, aquamation will be in the same price range as cremation. We believe it is important that people make their choice based on conviction, not on cost.

What about religious or cultural sensitivities?

Pontes handles every farewell in a respectful and neutral manner, regardless of beliefs. We offer aquamation as a fully-fledged alternative to burial and cremation.

More info

Would you like more information about aquamation or the pilot project in Flanders? Please feel free to contact us.

You can also listen to the episode of the VRT podcast “Het Kwartier” about resomation of aquamation.