A paw print to keep, in The Hague
A print has to be taken while your pet is still with you, or before cremation, so a little planning helps. Here's how to get a clear paw print in The Hague, who can take it for you and what finishing it costs.
- Nose prints and fur clippings too
- Keep a scan so the original stays home
- Options that serve The Hague
The Hague, South Holland
Who takes paw prints in The Hague
The Hague's wind and salty air can weather outdoor markers quickly, especially near the coast. If you have a garden or balcony, stone, glazed ceramic or a potted plant memorial will last better than painted wood. A tree or bio urn can work in a garden, while a small memorial plant on a balcony is a gentle choice in an apartment.
The coast is part of life in The Hague, and many people think of the beach at Scheveningen or the dunes when they imagine a final resting place. If you want to scatter part of the ashes, do it quietly, away from busy areas, and check any local rules for the spot. Some families keep a small portion in a keepsake so they have something to hold on to.
One advantage of a large metro like The Hague is the number of people who can turn a print into something else: ceramic studios, jewelers, engravers, embroiderers and tattoo artists. Working locally means you can see samples, hand over the print in person and collect the finished piece without shipping anything precious. Many online makers work from a photo or scan instead, so either way the original can stay safely at home.
The Hague is home to about 545,000 people, the 2nd-largest of the 2 South Holland communities we cover.
The closest communities we cover are Rotterdam (13 miles), Haarlem (26 miles) and Amsterdam (33 miles). Providers serving those towns often travel to The Hague too, so it can be worth asking them for a quote.
68.37%[1]
In 2023, 68.37% of deaths in the Netherlands were cremated (108 crematoria).
~$32[2]
Paw-print add-ons at US crematories have a median price of about $32, from $10 to $76.
3-5% of body weight[3]
Embrace notes cremated remains typically weigh about 3-5% of the pet's original body weight.
Ashes, graves and the print that comes first
Cremation has become steadily more common in Netherlands, now chosen for about 68.37%[1] of those who die there, and newer pet aftercare providers have arrived with it. Some offer a 3D scan of the paw or a digital print file alongside the clay. If a provider mentions this, ask whether you'll receive the file itself, in a standard format, so you can take it to any maker later rather than only through them.
We take the Netherlands rate from Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Cremation Statistics 2023 (2023). It is a human statistic; there is no equivalent pet figure for The Hague, and we would rather show a real number than invent one.
Clay, ink and the local climate
If you're thinking of an outdoor memorial in The Hague, such as a garden stone with your pet's print pressed in, the weather decides when to make it. Concrete doesn't cure well in frost or fierce heat. Take the print now in clay or ink and keep it indoors, then make the stone in a mild month when the ground is workable.
What paw print keepsakes cost in The Hague
European crematoria often price by package rather than by item. An Irish crematorium, for example, lists individual cremation from €250 for cats or dogs up to 10 kg[4]. A print is usually a modest extra within that, and jewelry or engraving from a print is priced separately by the maker. Ask providers in The Hague what's included before you choose.
The South Holland price table breaks costs down by product; our services page explains what sits behind each line.
Free tool
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Local rules worth knowing in South Holland
Renters in South Holland often can't bury a pet in the yard without the landlord's agreement, and even where they can, the grave stays behind when the lease ends. That's one reason portable memorials such as prints are so popular. The notes below set out what South Holland allows for burial and scattering; whatever they say, a print moves with you to the next address.
In the Netherlands, ask your vet or dierencrematorium for a pootafdruk before cremation; many offer clay or ink prints within their packages. Several Dutch pet insurers contribute toward cremation costs, so check your policy. The damp climate slows air-dry clay, so allow extra drying time before framing.
What to do first, and what can wait
- Tell your child what's happening in plain words, then offer them a part in making the print if they want one. Our guide to print-making with children has age-by-age ideas for what they can do.
- Give them a real job: rolling the clay, choosing the card color or writing the name.
- Let them press a hand or fingerprint beside the paw if they want to.
- If the print is taken after death, let an adult or the vet do it, and show your child the finished keepsake.
- Make a copy for your child's room, and tuck the original away out of harm's way.
- Come back to it later. Some children want the print framed straight away; others return to it months on.
Ways families in The Hague keep a print close
In the Netherlands, cremation is common for people, and many Hague families feel comfortable keeping a pet's ashes at home. An urn on a bookshelf, a keepsake with a paw print, or a small pendant holding a little ash fits well in city apartments. If you plan to move, perhaps abroad, a compact and sturdy container makes travelling with the ashes easier.
browse in-depth guides or recent articles, or look at how readers voted in our polls, Our services overview lays out every option side by side, run the numbers with the free planning tools. Close to The Hague we also cover Rotterdam; the full list for South Holland and for the Netherlands is a click away.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
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Whose print are you thinking about?
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When did (or will) you take your pet's print?
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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
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Paw print keepsake chooser
Match a print method to your pet's size, fur and the keepsake you want to keep.
Jewelry ash capacity guide
How much ash fits in pendants, rings and glass, and how many pieces one pet can fill.
Questions people ask
Why does the The Hague 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 68.37%[1] of Netherlands residents are cremated. There is no official pet equivalent, and inventing one would be worse than quoting a real, clearly labelled number.
Which nearby towns can I compare with The Hague?
The closest communities we cover are Rotterdam (about 13 miles), Haarlem (about 26 miles) and Amsterdam (about 33 miles). Providers based in those places often serve The Hague too. Ask each one for a written total that includes collection, so the distance is priced in.
Should I use a local jeweler or an online maker for a paw print pendant?
Both work. A local jeweler or engraver in The Hague lets you see samples and hand over the print in person. Online makers usually work from a photo or scan, so the original never has to leave your home. Ask either one for a proof before they start, and check how long it will take: a custom silver print charm takes about two weeks at one US maker[6].
My pet was cremated without a paw print. Is there anything I can do?
You can't take a new impression after cremation, but there are good alternatives. Look through your photos for a clear shot of a paw, or of paw prints in snow, sand or mud; engravers and artists can trace one. Check old vet records, the puppy or kitten pack from a breeder, and grooming photos. Some artists can also draw a lifelike paw from pictures of your pet's feet. It won't be the exact pad pattern, but many owners find it just as meaningful.
Will the crematory send the paw print back with the ashes?
It depends on the provider. Some take the print at intake and return it with the ashes; others hand it to your vet or post it separately. Ask how the print is labeled and when it will come back, and ask for a photo of it before cremation so you know it's clear. If you'd rather not wait, take your own before collection.
What if my family can't agree who keeps the print?
Take several. Clay can be re-rolled and ink prints are quick, so there's no reason to stop at one. If the original is already made, photograph or scan it and have copies made: framed ink prints, small engraved tags or matching pendants. Our ashes sharing planner can help if you're dividing ashes between keepsakes too.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] In 2023, 68.37% of deaths in the Netherlands were cremated (108 crematoria). Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Cremation Statistics 2023, 2023.
- [2] Paw-print add-ons at US crematories have a median price of about $32, from $10 to $76. Our estimate: median of [$10 clay (AGP), $15 laser engraving (AGP), $49 ink (Final Gift), $76 clay (Final Gift)]. How we calculate.
- [3] 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.
- [4] An Irish pet crematorium lists individual cremation from EUR 150 for pets under 2 kg and EUR 250 for cats or dogs up to 10 kg. Donegal Pet Crematorium - How Much is Pet Cremation in Ireland?, 2026.
- [5] The typical sterling silver pet cremation pendant costs about $190, based on the middle of three sellers' price points. Our estimate: median of [Urns.com median $129, Memorials.com midpoint of $87.95–$297.95 = $193, Final Gift sterling paw pendant $240]. How we calculate.
- [6] A custom sterling silver actual-paw-print charm costs $143 before the chain (about $59–$79 for silver) and takes about 2 weeks to make. String of Jewels – Actual paw print necklace, 2026.
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