"Letters to heaven" at Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium

A special letterbox has been installed at the entrance to Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium. Family members can use it to send post containing personal messages to the loved ones they have lost.

Initiative by Anita Meinema

The letterbox for ‘letters to heaven’ is an initiative by Anita Meinema from Santpoort-Noord. Anita’s parents and husband were cremated at Westerveld, and their ashes were also scattered there. After regularly writing letters to her husband after his death, Anita realised that this helped her a great deal in coping with her loss. Her next thought was that if it helped her, it might also help other people to send a ‘letter to heaven’. She approached Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium with her idea, and they have since installed a special letterbox at the entrance to the park. On posting her ‘letter to heaven’ on 18 May, Anita Meinema’s wish was granted.

Anita Meinema explains: “I love walking around Westerveld Park because it’s beautiful. Luckily, Westerveld immediately welcomed my idea. I’m delighted that there is now a letterbox for anyone wanting to write a letter, whether it’s personal or anonymous. Who knows what people may write; a poem, a final goodbye or simply a ‘chat’.”

Offering comfort

“We are delighted and proud to have been able to become part of this beautiful initiative,” says Jessica Hof of Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium. “I truly hope that writing letters can help comfort family and friends in their time of loss, just as it did Anita Meinema.”

Walks during Weekend of the Cemetery in the Netherlands

Discover impotant monuments and graves full of love at the Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium and the Moscowa Cemetery & Crematorium.

Individual walks

During the national Weekend of the Cemetery, whose theme this year is "Cemeteries: full of love", Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium (Driehuis, Netherlands) and Moscowa Cemetery & Crematorium (Arnhem, Netherlands) are offering very special walks.

“As group walks and activities are currently not allowed because of Covid-19 measures, we are pleased to welcome visitors in a different manner,” explains Carla Bosua, director of the two locations. “After all, our beautiful memorial parks are very suitable for a walk, either alone or in a small group. We provide a map and description so that everyone can discover for themselves that our cemeteries are also ‘full of love’.”

Westerveld

On Sunday, May 30th, 2021, Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium is offering a very special countryside walk which covers a number of important monuments. A route description is available at the Petit Café Westerveld. Staff will be pleased to welcome walkers to the café patio where food and drinks are available.

Moscowa

A special route has been set out in Moscowa Memorial Park, to discover graves which are "full of love". - love for the loved ones, love for a hobby, pet or profession. The walk is extremely suitable for a solo trip or for a small group that wants to explore Moscowa Cemetery & Crematorium. Maps with the route description are available at the Moscowa tearoom. 

Additional information

www.bc-westerveld.nl

www.moscowa.nl

Henry Keizer passed away

A man of honour, leadership, strength, humour, sympathy, empathy and great sense of cultural heritage of cemeteries is how we will always remember Mr Henry Keizer.

His dedication to help us in our mission was truthful, powerful and memorable. Loss of his presence will influence our work. Yet we must and will recall his spirit and thoughts as he would want us to do. Stay on the roads he helped us build in the vision he felt as much as we do.

Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe presidency, steering committee and members express our condolences to his family and friends who grieve these days. In our hearts and thoughts we stay aside.

Lidija Pliberšek
President

Westerveld Fair in Westerveld Memorial Park on 11 June

Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium (Duin en Kruidbergerweg 2-6, Driehuis the Netherlands) will organise the second Westerveld Fair on Sunday 11 June from 10:30 until 16:00. The Art & Nature-themed Fair is freely accessible to all.

Nature in a prominent position
With its rolling dunes and diverse plants and trees, Westerveld is a perfect setting for the Fair. “The special monuments and history also make this location unique”, says Carla Bosua, director of Westerveld. There will be a wide range of exhibitors at the Fair, including trade, the arts and nature. There will also be a falconer and members of staff will be organising a ‘nature’ workshop. “With live music, a catering pavilion serving all kinds of delicious food and children’s entertainment, there is something for everyone. This year, we will be increasing our focus on nature and natural products. We will be offering herb plants and cut firewood, for instance, and we will provide information about plants. We’re convinced we’ll make a lot of people happy again!”

Historic theatre
Those interested in history will be able to enjoy an open-air play about famous historical figures who found their final resting place in the memorial park. One such figure is Jan Jacob Slauerhoff (1898), one of the most important Dutch poets and novelists. Brother and sister Louis (1883) and Heintje (1888) Davids – variety artists and big names in Dutch cabaret – and Artis figurehead Frits Portielje (1886) will also be featured.






www.bc-westerveld.nl

Recordings at Westerveld for new police series

At the end of June, recordings were made at Westerveld in The Netherlands for the new Dutch police series Noord/Zuid. 

Special evening walk through Westerveld memorial park

On 3 June, Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium in the Netherlands organized a special evening walk through the monumental memorial park. 

Sensitive memorial evening at Westerveld

On Saturday 2 November Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium (the Netherlands) held an impressive commemoration.

AGM 2013 report

On September 19th, the Annual General Meeting 2013 took place. This time in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The complete event of AGM 2013 was a lively experience with 85 participants from 15 countries. In 3 days we held the AGM, workshops, visited 2 significant cemeteries and experienced Amsterdam secrets in a boat tour.

Thanks to presidency, steering committee and exceptional organizational efforts of our host, The Facultatieve group, we took big steps forward in the life of our association. You can see our experience in the lively video and photo album of AGM 2013.

The AGM was guided by president of ASCE, Mrs. Lidija Pliberšek, and all steering committee members were present or forwarded their votes to other members. During the AGM, several things were outlined and discussed:

1. Financial report

Financial report for 2012 and first 8 months of 2013. A very well balanced finances statement provides secure future for general work of ASCE.

2. PayPal integration

Possibility to pay membership through PayPal was introduced. With this we have approached and listened to many members who wanted this option.

3. Process of recognizing Significant Cemeteries

For the past years many requests were made in this direction. Steering Committee has prepared a process which will ensure that in future there are clear requirements on how to make your cemetery become recognized as Significant Cemetery of Europe.

The process is mainly oriented into providing many important details that describe the cemetery (basic statistic data, cultural data, important monuments or graves,...). This is an important step into reaching our mission, to preserve and protect cultural heritage in cemeteries.

4. ASCE official registration

ASCE official registration as a non-profit organization was presented. Since 2011 presidency took important steps into adapting to changes in Italian legislation. ASCE was officially confirmed renewed registration in November 26th 2012.

5. New address of ASCE

Due to changes in organization at the ASCE seat in Bologna, official address is now:

Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe
via de' Musei, 8
40124 Bologna
Italy

6. New members and significant cemeteries

Within past 12 months following new cemeteries joined ASCE:

• Cimetiere du Parc, Clamart, France
• Sant Antonio Abat or Cantagallet Cemetery, Alcoy, Spain
• The English Cemetery in Malaga, Spain
• Highgate cemetery, London
• Referat Friedhöfe, Innsbruck, Austria

We have seen interesting presentations of each cemetery and took note about their acceptance into our organization. Besides Cemetery members ASCE accepted many new individual members and researchers.

7. Website and communication

In past years we are noticing steady growth of membership, website visits, social media presence and emailing lists. Our work is recognized daily by more and more cemeteries professionals, visitors and general public. Still we are planning many more developments in our communications in the future.

• Together with scientific committee we will further develop the research segment of website.
• We are inviting new editors to cover stories from their region or countries. If you wish to become an editor please send an email to admin@significantcemeteries.org and we will include you into the process.
• You are as well welcome to join us at our Facebook and Google+ page to follow our stories and work.

8. Finalization of EUCEMET project

All members are again invited to participate in organizing Photo exhibition: “European cemeteries: Soul gardens, variety and heritage”. All material is available at ASCE secretariat. Any member who wishes to participate can send an email to admin@significantcemeteries.org.

9. Vision and strategy of European Cemeteries Route

The vision was presented with strong focus on developing tourism in cemeteries. Within following months members will be able to join many new and some mandatory activities within the Route. Secretariat will take care of establishing a new website and mobile guide which will be more user friendly and at the same time provide data from existing ASCE website.

10. Common project 2014: "European peace graves"

It is a project that can serve as part of Cemeteries route to promote visits of the cemeteries. Further information will be sent to members in following month.

11. Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2013

As noted in the report many members are actively organizing events during the week. In future we will present the common theme of such weeks and try to amplify the overall effect in media.

12. New marketing materials

All materials are always available at this ASCE webpage for download and print.

13. Upcoming AGMs

• 2014 in Barcelona, Spain
• 2015 in Bucharest, Romania
• 2016 in Dublin, Ireland

14. Conclusions

We are very proud to continue important work for our cemeteries and seeing growth of membership and activities by members. AGM 2013 proved there is a lot of interest in expanding such work and we are sure that in Barcelona in 2014 we will see even more amazing projects which will bring our visitors in touch with the cemeteries.

AGM 2013: Video and photo album

Highlights from the Annual General Meeting and Conference 2013.

The AGM 2013 was a lively experience with 85 participants from 15 countries. In 3 days we held the AGM, workshops, visited 2 significant cemeteries and experienced Amsterdam secrets in a boat tour.

Thanks to presidency, steering committee and exceptional organizational efforts of our host, The Facultatieve group, we took big steps forward in the life of our association.

Discover the highlights of AGM 2013 in the lively video below or explore the photo album from the event at THIS LINK.

AGM 2013: Big steps forward

First impressions from the exciting last week in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

After months of preparations by presidency and steering committee and exceptional organizational efforts of our host, The Facultatieve group, AGM 2013 launched in full touch.

We took big steps forward towards even better and more visible ASCE in the future. Cemeteries route, significant cemeteries recognition method, scientific research and new projects cooperation were outlined. Cemeteries from landscape architectural points of view enriched our perception and experience. Visit of Westerveld and Moscowa cemeteries were exciting and amplified our vision.

Yes, we are ready to get each European citizen in touch with the heritage resting in cemeteries.

In following days we will post full report and details on many projects we are developing. For now you are welcome to enjoy the few photo glimpses of 3 amazing days we have enjoyed in Amsterdam.

Thank you Facultatieve group for making us feel special.

Thank you Westerveld and Moscowa for joyful hospitality and wonderful guidance through your heritage.

Thank you dear members for attending and participating with your valuable comments and views.

Thank you dr. F. Javier Rodríguez Barberán, Karel Werdler, Muriel Ghys, Wim van Midwoud, dr. Julie Rugg, Olaf Ihlefeldt for amazing lectures and knowledge exchange.

Thank you all the new members for presentations of your wonderful cemeteries.

Thank you Barcelona for beautiful invitation to AGM 2014.

AGM 2013: Walking route "Discover Westerveld"

The special walking route ‘Discover Westerveld’ opened on 19 September in the monumental Westerveld memorial park - part of the ‘Facultatieve Group’.

Open air nature, art and architecture museum

The first information board was unveiled by Mayor Franc Weerwind of the municipality of Velsen and Lidija Plibersek, President of the Association of Significant Cemeteries (ASCE). The walking route, which was set up specially for the 125th anniversary of the cemetery and 100th anniversary of Westerveld crematorium, leads visitors through the park and tells the fascinating story of Westerveld.

The walking route goes past numerous information boards through the memorial park. Thus we can read about the foundation in 1888, the laying out of the country estate by the renowned landscape architect Louis Paul Zocher, the construction of the first crematorium in 1913, the mourning train between Amsterdam and Driehuis, the special architecture, and Westerveld during World War II. The route also pays particular attention to outstanding monuments such as those of Multatuli, Anthony Fokker, Aletta Jacobs and Pim Fortuyn.

News from Facultatieve group website.

Anniversary book and CD 'Westerveld' for Prime Minister

From left to right: Henry Keizer, Mark Rutte (Prime Minister of the Netherlands) and Franc Weerwind.

AGM 2013: Programme

Programe of the annual general meeting AGM and Conference 2013 in Amsterdam with title: "Gardens, forests, cities. European cemeteries as a cultural landscape.".

AGM and Conference will take place at Crown Plaza hotel in Amsterdam.

Thursday, September 19th

08:30 | 09:00

Registration

09:00 | 10:45

Henry Keizer, President & CEO ‘the Facultatieve Group’
Welcome

Lidija Pliberšek, president of ASCE
Members of Steering Committee of ASCE
Annual General Meeting

10:45 | 11:00

Coffee break

11:00 | 13:00

dr. F. Javier Rodríguez Barberán, University of Sevilla
Understanding and Managing the Complexity. Cemeteries as a Cultural Landscape

Karel Werdler, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam
Dutch cemeteries and landscape in relationship to dark tourism

Muriel Ghys, Les Amis du Musèe Funèraire National
Evolution of cemeteries in France over the last century

Wim van Midwoud, Dutch National Association of Cemeteries
Harmony between burial and cremation

13:00 | 13:30

Lunch break

13:45 | 19:30

Visit of Westerveld cemetery
(transport arranged)
Buffet dinner at Westerveld

Friday, September 20th

09:00 | 11:00

dr. Julie Rugg, Senior Research Fellow, Cemetery Research Group, University of York, United Kingdom
The changing landscape of death

dr. F. Javier Rodríguez Barberán, University of Sevilla
Coauthor Martin Ernerth, Stiftung Historische Kirchhofe und Friedhofe in
Berlin-Brandenburg
Trees and stones. A brief introduction to the relation between cemeteries and nature

Olaf Ihlefeldt, South Western Cemetery Stahnsdorf
South Western Cemetery Stahnsdorf

11:00 | 11:15

Coffee break

11:15 | 12:00

New ASCE members
Presentations of new members

Jordi Valmana, Cemeteries of Barcelona
AGM host 2014: Barcelona

12:15 | 13:15

Lunch break

13:15 | 19:00

Visit of Moscowa cemetery
(transport arranged)

20:00

Gala dinner at the hotel Crowne Plaza Amsterdam - south

Saturday, September 21st

09:15 | 09:30

Gathering at hotel lobby
09:30 | Departure to Amsterdam centre

10:00 | 12:00

Canal boat tour

12:00

Departure to hotel

AGM2013: Call for papers

The theme of this year's conference is "Gardens, Forests, Cities. European Cemeteries as Cultural Landscape".

The aim of this years workshop at AGM is the analysis of European cemeteries as a landscape in this double significance: the generic one, concerning to their heritage and cultural values, and the more specific of the past, present and future of these places in which nature has always played a so decisive role.

If you have an interesting article or presentation from your own region, expose it to other members at AGM 2013. To do so,

AGM 2013: Accomodation

Make your hotel reservation for your stay in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, during the AGM and Conference 2013.

AGM will take place at Crown Plaza hotel in Amsterdam. (click for location)

Please click on this link to make the reservation on special discounted prices that are arranged for ASCE members:

• Double room, single use: 139,00 €
• Double room: 159,00 €

This is a limited time offer so please hurry up. The group code will be automatically entered for you in the website.

If you will extend the period of your staying, the prices will not show up, but you can still make the reservation.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Groups & Events supervisor of the hotel:

Marjan Elgersma
Crowne Plaza Amsterdam - South
marjan.elgersma@ihg.com
c/o George Gershwinlaan 101 / 1082 MT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tel.: +31 20 504 3611 / Fax: +31 20 504 3626

You can as well find many attractions and tourist information at the Amsterdam tourist office website.

AGM 2013: Save the date

This year's AGM and Conference will take place from 19 to 21 September 2013 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Dear ASCE members, coleagues and friends,

it is a great pleasure to invite you to the Annual General Meeting 2013 of the Association of Segnificant Cemeteries in Europe - ASCE.

• AGM and Conference 2013: September 19th-21st in Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Conference theme: Gardens, forests, cities. European cemeteries as a cultural landscape.

About the conference title

In 1992 the World Heritage Convention recognized the cultural landscapes as a category of site to be included in the World Heritage List. As the UNESCO Committee wrote, “the cultural landscapes represented the combined works of nature and of man”. The term itself included many types “of the interaction between humankind and its natural environment”.

Cemeteries are, in a certain sense, cultural landscapes. And the main reason is not because of their own complexity, which requires to be well understood of different disciplines, including history, sociology, anthropology, theology, art history, architecture and design. They are landscapes too because of the importance of the relationship between nature and funerary architecture and planning from the Enlightenment to our days. The early projects of gardencemeteries designed in Europe, from France to England or Germany; the difficult balance between vegetation and architecture in the great necropolis of the XIXth century; the new models of landscape-cemeteries promoted by modernist architects, from Sweden to Holland. These are some of the most relevant expressions of our common funerary heritage. Even today, it’s almost impossible to conceive these sacred and emotional spaces without their ecological dimension.

The aim of this years workshop is the analysis of European cemeteries as a landscape in this double significance: the generic one, concerning to their heritage and cultural values, and the more specific of the past, present and future of these places in which nature has always played a so decisive role.

The AGM 2013 will be hosted by Begraafplaats & Crematorium Westerveld and will be held in Amsterdam.

We are looking forward to seeing you in Amsterdam! (more details in following weeks)

Moscowa Cemetery & Crematorium (Arnhem, Netherlands)

Moscowa Cemetery & Crematorium lies in delightful surroundings and, aside from being a last resting place, is also popular with walkers.

The origin of the name

Moscowa Cemetery (1873) derives its name from the manor farm of the same name, which is just outside the cemetery. The farm was built in 1847 by Jacob Carel Jan baron van Heeckeren van Enghuizen. He was a military man in heart and soul who liked to name his farms after the military campaigns he undertook while serving in the French army - in this case a campaign to Moscow in 1812 under Napoleon.

Cemetery structure

Moscowa has two chapels. The buildings have the typical pointed form. Entering one of the chapels, you will see towards the end of the walkway an unusual triangular stained glass window comprising some five thousand coloured pieces of glass. The windows, developed by graphic designer Jan P.C. van Doorn, evoke interaction. The pattern is of vegetation rising from the ground, dominated by horizontal and vertical lines.

Moscowa opened a crematorium in 1974. The site features a beautiful urn garden with a wide variety of memorials, many created by artists from Arnhem and the surrounding area. Ashes may also be interred in or on an existing grave.

A popular walking site

Moscowa currently covers over thirty hectares. The burial park which dates back more than 135 years is characterised by its lovely setting, monumental design and huge diversity of flora. The many unusual conifer trees are an especially striking feature. A wide variety of birds breed at Moscowa, including the Green Woodpecker, the Tawny Owl and the Buzzard, but songbirds are also well represented. In the autumn, there is a wide array of fungi, including the Cauliflower mushroom, Fly Agaric, Bay Bolete and Penny Bun or Porcino. This makes Moscowa not only a last resting place, but also popular with walkers.

Artistic and historical value

There are a multitude of historic and art-historic reasons to take a stroll around Moscowa. There are many very special monuments and tombs signed by artists and sculptors, in all kinds of different materials. Among the more striking in the collection are a truncated obelisk, an intricately embroidered pall over a coffin and an ornately sculpted neo-Gothic cross, but also a monument with great symbolism representing Faith, Hope and Charity, an Art Nouveau memorial and a mausoleum (the only one of its kind).

Address

Moscowa Cemetery & Crematorium
Waterbergseweg 18
6815 AP Arnhem
The Netherlands

Contacts

Tel.: +31 (0)26 445 63 47
Fax: +31 (0)26 445 75 25
E-mail: info@moscowa.nl

Website: www.moscowa.nl

Book: Westerveld: a monumental journey of discovery

An interesting book that explores the Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium in Driehuis, Netherlands.

About the book

The memorial park of Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium, part of "the Facultatieve Group", features many great monuments - each with its own story.

The book Westerveld: A Monumental Journey of Discovery (original title: Westerveld: Een monumentale ontdekkingstocht) discusses one hundred years of special monuments, including those of Anthony Fokker, Lex Goudsmit, Multatuli and Pim Fortuyn. The book also includes a detailed map, giving readers the opportunity to discover for themselves the special sites and beauty of Westerveld.

The book encompasses a well-thought-out selection. "That was quite a challenge, given that all our monuments are special and each has its own story to tell", said director Carla Bosua, "The monuments in the book are special because of their unique character, cultural-historical value and/or fame of the deceased. Therefore, the book includes not only classical monuments, but also very contemporary ones. And naturally describes also urn monuments”.

Concerto in Memoriam | Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium

“Only music can speak of death.” This quote was the founding thought behind the Concerto in Memoriam in 1994, a memorial concert in Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium’s monumental park, the first crematorium in the Netherlands.

Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium (Driehuis, Netherlands)

This cemetery, places in a vast dune landscape, is the final resting place for many Dutch persons who were famed at home and abroad.

About the cemetery

Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium is placed in a vast dune landscape, with the official status of a bird sanctuary. That is one of the many things that makes this cemetery so special. The hilly terrain provides an almost intimate shelter. At the same time, Westerveld represents a historic turning point in Dutch death culture, and this magnificent location is the seat of the cremation movement in the Netherlands.

History

In the 17th century, the Westerveld country estate was an idyllic spot owned by a rich family from Amsterdam. After the site had been purchased as a cemetery in 1888, landscape architect Louis Paul Zocher (known for his design for the Vondelpark in Amsterdam) adapted the park in line with its new function.

The fact that this magnificent dune area turned into a cemetery at the end of the 19th century, was the result of a changing funeral culture. From 1 January 1866, people could no longer be buried in churches and graveyards, by order of the government. Cemeteries sprung up on the city outskirts. A number of wealthy residents of Amsterdam, mainly from the world of banking, were looking for a tranquil location for a family cemetery with a perpetual grave right. Their attention was drawn to the remote Westerveld country estate in the dunes. They entered into an agreement with the company that ran the Amsterdam-IJmuiden railway line. Until 1917, the deceased and their next of kin could be transported by a special mourning train. A special branch ran from the main line to Westerveld, complete with a mourning station and adjoining auditorium.

Design

The hilly landscape made it possible to build aboveground crypts in the dunes. In 1906, the famous Dutch architect Joseph Th. J. Cuypers (known for the new Saint Bavo Cathedral in Haarlem that was completed in 1930) designed the oldest of these aboveground crypts, which held eighteen coffins. Wandering around Westerveld you encounter various mausoleums, each with their own architecture and character.

Architect Willem Marinus Dudok has played an important role in the history of Westerveld. He designed the second cremation auditorium, an urn and a number of columbaria.

Important personalities

Westerveld, which has been managed by "the Facultatieve Group" since 2004, is the final resting place for many Dutch persons who were famed at home and abroad. In 1948, social critic and author Multatuli (the first Dutchman to be cremated, albeit in Germany) was given a monument at Westerveld, of soft marlstone with a sculpted flaming torch. A gold-coloured urn with a bronze tablet in the first columbarium reminds visitors of the physician doctor Christiaan Joannes Vaillant, the first person to be cremated in the Netherlands (1914). The monument for Aletta Henriëtte Jacobs and her husband stands against the wall of the second columbarium, close to the Impluvium. Jacobs was the first graduated woman and the first female physician in Dutch history. The bronze relief in the monument depicts a man and a woman, both kneeling down on the globe and holding a burning torch. Other famous world citizens who found their final resting-place at Westerveld include the Austrian ideologist Marxism Karl Kautsky († 1938), aviation pioneer Antony Fokker († 1939), Russian conductor Kirill Kondrashin († 1981) and Russian pianist Youri Egorov († 1988).

For them and everyone else, once a year Westerveld is home to a Concerto In Memoriam, attended by thousands of visitors who listen to impressive music and a Word of Comfort, spoken by a different guest speaker each year.

Address

Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium
Duin en Kruidbergerweg 2-6
1985 HG Driehuis
Netherlands

Contacts

Tel. +31(0)255514843
Tel/Fax: +31(0)255530076

e-mail: info@bc-westerveld.nl
Website: Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium

Opening hours

Every day from 09.00 to 17.00