The verbs are: sterven and overlijden. - sterf stierf gestorven - overlijd overleed overleden You often can use both but there is a small difference. Overlijden is a little bit more former. So it is better to say: - Hij overleed aan kanker In stead of: - Hij stierf aan kanker In media (especially in headlines) people tend to use 'overleden'. For example: "Zangeres Whitney Houston overleden" "Ze overleed (of stierf) ....."

Sterven is closer to "to die" (dood gaan) Overlijden is closer to "to decease"