THE DEVELOPMENT OF CAUSE-OF-DEATH REGISTRATION IN THE NETHERLANDS, 1865-1955

This paper describes the transition from a local-level, non-confidenti al cause-of-death registration system in the Netherlands to a national -level system based on confidential medical certificates of death. The advancement of public health and the preservation of public order (fo cusing on the fear of suspended animation as well as on violent deaths ) laid the basis for the system. During the period from 1865 to 1955, a variety of issues were debated: centralized versus decentralized cod ing and processing of the data, confidential versus non-confidential c ertificates, national versus international classifications, and statis tical versus medical concerns.