diff --git a/parcels/particle.py b/parcels/particle.py
index 2b7cb1a237..823165a0df 100644
--- a/parcels/particle.py
+++ b/parcels/particle.py
@@ -149,9 +149,6 @@ def __init__(self, lon, lat, pid, fieldset=None, ngrids=None, depth=0.0, time=0.
                 initial = v.initial
             setattr(self, v.name, v.dtype(initial))
 
-    def __del__(self):
-        pass  # superclass is 'object', and object itself has no destructor, hence 'pass'
-
     def __repr__(self):
         time_string = "not_yet_set" if self.time is None or np.isnan(self.time) else f"{self.time:f}"
         p_string = f"P[{self.id}](lon={self.lon:f}, lat={self.lat:f}, depth={self.depth:f}, "
diff --git a/parcels/particledata.py b/parcels/particledata.py
index 6ef36fb59a..8a9e69c11d 100644
--- a/parcels/particledata.py
+++ b/parcels/particledata.py
@@ -182,9 +182,6 @@ def __init__(self, pclass, lon, lat, depth, time, lonlatdepth_dtype, pid_orig, n
         else:
             raise ValueError("Latitude and longitude required for generating ParticleSet")
 
-    def __del__(self):
-        pass
-
     @property
     def pu_indicators(self):
         """