The choices in the Donor Register
Everyone in the Netherlands aged 18 and older is listed in the Donor Register. In the Donor Register, you can indicate what may happen to your organs and tissues after your death.
What options are there in the Donor Register?
When registering your choice in the Donor Register, you are given four options:
Yes, I want to be a donor.
You want to be a donor after death. Organs you can donate are: pancreas, intestines, heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys. These tissues you can donate: blood vessels, bone tissue, heart valves, cartilage, tendons, skin, and eyes. You might prefer not to donate certain organs or tissues. You can specify your preference per organ or tissue.
No, I do not want to be a donor.
You do not want to be a donor. After your death, you therefore do not donate any organs and tissues.
My partner or family decides after my death.
After your death, your partner or family may make the choice. If your partner is reachable or present at the hospital, the doctor will speak with your partner. Your partner may then choose whether or not you become an organ and tissue donor.
If you do not have a partner, or if your partner is not reachable or present at the hospital, the doctor will speak with your family. They may then decide whether or not you donate organs and tissues.
If no partner or family is present, but you are registered with this choice in the Donor Register? Then you will not become a donor. You will also not become a donor if there is disagreement about the choice.
I designate one person to decide after my death.
You want someone else to choose for you after your death. This person can also live abroad. Discuss this with the person you choose. You then enter this person's details in the Donor Register.
If this person is not reachable after your death, your partner or family will decide whether or not you become a donor.
How can I submit my choice?
You can register your choice in the Donor Register at mijn.donorregister.nl. For this, you need a DigiD. Do you not have a DigiD, or would you rather fill out a paper form? Then you can here, you can request a form on the Donorregister website.
Frequently asked questions
What if you do not fill in a choice in the Donorregister?
If people do not fill in a choice themselves, they are registered in the Donorregister as 'no objection to organ donation'. They will receive a confirmation letter about this.
No objection means that your organs and tissues can go to a patient after your death. You will then become an organ donor.
Can you still change your choice in the Donorregister?
Yes, you can always change your choice again. You can do this 24 hours a day by logging in via Donorregister.nl. You may change your choice as often as you like.
Can I choose what I do and do not donate?
Yes, you can choose for yourself whether and what you do or do not want to donate. You can submit your choice on the website of the Donorregister. In addition to the choice of whether or not you want to be a donor, you can also fill in there which organs and tissues you do or do not want to donate.
How do I know if I am suitable to donate?
Everyone can submit a choice in the Donorregister, even if you, for example, have an illness or live an unhealthy lifestyle.Whether someone can donate organs and tissues depends on many different things. For example, your health, age, and how someone died. Therefore, doctors can only determine whether or not you are suitable at the time of death.