 Last month Westerveld Cemetery (Duin & Kruidbergerweg in Driehuis) was the first cemetery in the Netherlands to join the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE). Members of this prestigious international organization of outstanding cemeteries include the monumental Père-Lachaise in Paris, Montjuic in Barcelona and Cimitero del Verano in Rome. Leo van Eijk – Westerveld's director – is delighted: “The fact that we have been invited also to become a member of this organization of world famous cemeteries is a form of recognition that I am extremely proud of.”
Westerveld – at over 31 hectares and one of the most extensive cemeteries – is the first in our country that may call itself member of the ASCE. Leo van Eijk: “Some time ago we were invited to visit a number of other members abroad. We were very impressed with the work of the ASCE to promote to the wider international public the beauty, monumental character, unique architecture and particular histories of different European cemeteries.”
History
Westerveld Cemetery was constructed around 1888 by landscape architect L.P. Zocher (famous for Amsterdam's Vondelpark) and grew into a monumental memorial park that also happens to be an official bird sanctuary. And with the Westerveld Crematorium – the first crematorium in the Netherlands (1913) – is unique in this country in the range of options it offers for remembrance and commemoration. It represents a distinctive ‘example’ of monumental Dutch architecture. Leo van Eijk: “Westerveld has a very individual identity. Because the park lies in an area of rolling dunes, it possesses an almost un-Dutch aura. Combined with plenty of greenery, it exudes exactly the kind of peace and quiet that people are looking for. It is not without reason that Westerveld is a favoured site for walkers.”
Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe
The Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe was founded in 2001 to create a European network of unusual cemeteries. It now has 85 members. According to the ASCE, cemeteries are an essential part of our cultural heritage; through their vast wealth of architecture and an irreplaceable ‘repertoire’ of monuments from previous centuries they provide a unique picture of the history of the locality in which they are found. The ASCE does all in its power to protect and safeguard this cultural heritage, and to make ‘Europe’ more aware of the importance and beauty of these exceptional cemeteries.
For more information please check: www.significantcemeteries.org
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