Neutron scattering experiments have been carried out on several Eu-nat containing hydrides. Neutron absorption has been lowered by taking advantage of its wavelength dependence and the use of annular samples. From neutron powder diffraction data of deuterided samples taken on D20 and D4B (ILL) the crystal structures could be solved ab initio, thus providing the first complete structural data of europium hydrides and the first reliable Eu-D distances. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.