Saying goodbye to a pet fish in Ghent
Fish are real pets, and some live for decades. We explain fish cremation in Ghent in plain words, including when a small fish is better honored another way.
- Pond and aquarium fish both covered
- Water cremation where it's offered
- Kind ways to explain it to children
Ghent, Flanders
Who will cremate a fish in Ghent?
Ghent is a compact city of canals, narrow streets and tall townhouses, and since the 2017 circulation plan, cars can no longer drive straight through the center, so many residents get around by bicycle and tram. If your pet dies at home, getting your animal to a vet may need planning, especially from an upstairs flat in the old town. Mention your street, the stairs and whether you have a car when you ask for options.
Ghent's climate is mild, grey and damp off the North Sea, with few hard frosts and summers that can bring muggy spells, especially during the crowded Gentse Feesten week in July. Because the city rarely gets properly cold, don't count on winter to buy much time. Put your pet on a folded blanket in the coolest room, keep wrapped cold packs close to the body, and arrange collection or a vet visit within the day.
When a fish in Ghent dies from something you can't explain, the aftercare can wait but the water can't. Take the body out the same hour, because decay in warm water releases ammonia that stresses the fish that are left. Then test the water, do a partial water change if readings are off and watch the others for a few days. Once the tank or pond is stable, you'll have a clearer head for the goodbye.
Ghent's population is around 262,000, the 2nd-largest of the 2 Flanders communities we cover. The nearest larger centre is Antwerp, about 32 miles (51 km) away, which is where some providers serving Ghent are based.
Our pages for Brussels (31 miles, a larger centre) and Antwerp (32 miles) describe the same choices from those towns' point of view, and the providers overlap, so a quote from one often covers Ghent as well.
67.98%[1]
In 2023, 67.98% of deaths in Belgium were cremated (21 crematoria).
10 million[2]
About 10 million US households keep freshwater fish.
13%[3]
13% of UK households keep an indoor fish tank.
3-5% of body weight[4]
Embrace notes cremated remains typically weigh about 3-5% of the pet's original body weight.
None of the figures on this this page are ours alone: they rest on Embrace Pet Insurance and American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 National Pet Owners Survey release.
What local funeral customs suggest for a pet fish
In Belgium, about 67.98%[1] of people are cremated. That middle ground means most people are comfortable with cremation without it being automatic. For a fish, that's a helpful place to be: nobody expects a particular choice, and providers are used to hearing different requests. Decide by size. Larger koi and goldfish suit cremation; the smallest fish often suit a burial, a planter or a communal cremation.
That Belgium rate is a human one, published by Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Cremation Statistics 2023 (2023). We quote it for Ghent only as a pointer to how families here already think about cremation.
Season by season: fish losses in Ghent
Outdoor goodbyes for a fish depend on the weather, but they don't have to happen straight away. Many families in Ghent keep a fish frozen, or keep a larger fish's ashes indoors, until a calm, dry day for a small ceremony by the pond or in the garden. Choose a day that suits the people who loved the fish.
What fish cremation costs in Ghent
Speed can cost extra. One Norwegian crematorium charges NOK 1,790 for same-day return of ashes[5], and in Sweden a return of two to four weeks is normal[6]. A fish doesn't need an express service: frozen, it can wait, and so can its ashes. When you ask a provider near Ghent for a quote, ask for the standard timescale and leave off any rush fee.
The Flanders price table breaks costs down by size; our services page explains what sits behind each line.
Free tool
Cremation cost calculator
Estimate a realistic price range for your pet's size, location and the type of cremation.
The legal side of losing a fish in Flanders
Some fish diseases are taken seriously by governments. Koi herpesvirus, for example, is reportable in a number of countries because it spreads between ponds and fisheries. If a vet suspects a notifiable disease, follow their instructions on disposal, which may mean cremation rather than burial. For everyday losses from age or water problems, the normal rules for Flanders, set out below, are all you need.
From the first minute to the last goodbye
- Net your fish out gently and lay it on a soft cloth, giving yourself a moment.
- Freeze it the same day, sealed and wrapped. A frozen fish keeps for weeks, so the clock stops here.
- Work out its size: a provider will want the length from nose to tail fork and an approximate weight, so take both now.
- Tell the family, children included, plainly and truthfully. Slipping in a lookalike rarely ends well.
- Compare two options, for example a private cremation with a small urn and a garden burial under a new plant.
- Book your choice and find out how they keep track of your fish from hand-over to the day it comes back.
Small memorials for a small life in Ghent
Many Flemish row houses in Ghent have a long, narrow city garden at the back, and some families bury a small pet there where rules allow, while many more choose cremation and an urn indoors. Belgian vets commonly arrange cremation on your behalf. Ask them plainly whether it will be individual, so the ashes are your pet's alone, what the total cost is, and when you can collect the urn.
For a plain comparison of the choices, open services, read our guides and latest articles, or compare your instinct with the poll results, run the numbers with the free planning tools. Close to Ghent we also cover Antwerp; the full list for Flanders and for Belgium is a click away.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
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If you had to decide today, which aftercare would you choose for your pet?
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Free tools to help you plan
Cremation cost calculator
Estimate a realistic price range for your pet's size, location and the type of cremation.
Ashes weight estimator
See roughly how much ash to expect back, by species and body weight.
Aftercare options compared
Compare private, communal and water cremation with burial on cost, timing and what comes home.
Questions people ask
Where are the providers that serve Ghent actually based?
Some are local, and some run from Antwerp, about 32 miles away. That is normal for a city this size. What matters is the collection time they quote for Ghent and whether the drive is priced into the total, so ask both up front.
Can a provider from a neighbouring town collect from Ghent?
Usually yes. Brussels is about 31 miles away and Antwerp is about 32 miles away, all inside a normal collection radius. Get the mileage written into the quote so there is no surprise on the day.
Why does the Ghent page quote a human cremation rate?
Because it is the best local signal we have. Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Cremation Statistics 2023 (2023) reports about 67.98%[1] of Belgium residents are cremated. There is no official pet equivalent, and inventing one would be worse than quoting a real, clearly labelled number.
Should I drop my fish off or have it collected in Ghent?
For most fish, dropping it off is simpler and cheaper. Put the sealed, frozen fish in a small cooler with ice packs and call ahead. Collection makes sense for a heavy koi you can't carry, or if you can't travel. Ask whether collection is included or charged separately.
How do I explain a fish's death to my child?
Use simple, true words: the fish has died, its body stopped working and it won't come back. Avoid swapping in a lookalike. Let your child help with a small goodbye, such as choosing a stone, drawing a picture or picking a plant for the spot. A first pet's death is often a child's first loss, and handling it gently helps.
What should I bring when I drop my fish off in Ghent?
Bring the fish still frozen, double-bagged in an insulated box, plus your name, phone number and the fish's name. Know whether you want private or communal cremation and what container you'd like the ashes in. A photo helps staff put a face to the name. Ask for a receipt that shows an identification number, so you can check it against the paperwork when the ashes come back.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] In 2023, 67.98% of deaths in Belgium were cremated (21 crematoria). Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Cremation Statistics 2023, 2023.
- [2] About 10 million US households keep freshwater fish. American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 National Pet Owners Survey release, 2025.
- [3] 13% of UK households keep an indoor fish tank. UK Pet Food (formerly PFMA) Pet Population 2026, 2026.
- [4] Embrace notes cremated remains typically weigh about 3-5% of the pet's original body weight. Embrace Pet Insurance - Bury or Cremate Your Dog? Costs, Pros & Cons, 2025.
- [5] The Norwegian provider charges NOK 1,790 extra for same-day return of ashes. Hjertedyr (Norway) - Prisliste, 2026.
- [6] AniCura Sweden says it normally takes 2-4 weeks for ashes to be returned, sometimes longer. AniCura Sverige - Avlivning och kremering hund, 2026.
- [7] A koi (30-40 years) can be expected to live about 5.4 times as long as a typical goldfish (6-7 years). Our estimate: 35 / 6.5 (range midpoints). How we calculate.
Tell us about your fish
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