Many people find comfort in a memorial object. Comfort because they have something tangible from their loved ones. An urn and a photo, for instance, or a small urn that you can hold. Or a subtle necklace, which only you understand the true meaning of. All crematoria of our division all now offer an online memorial collection. The catalogue provides many different options, from special urns for your home, to bronze sculptures and all sorts of jewellery for a small amount of the ashes.

We understand that choosing such a commemorative item is not always easy. If you would like assistance, please contact a member of the site team. They will be happy to help you.

On 16 November, De Boskamp Funeral Centre & Crematorium organised an Open Evening. Everyone had been invited to come and many people accepted that invitation: it was a busy evening.

Very diverse company
On arrival, visitors were offered tea or coffee and a delicacy. They were then divided into groups and given a guided tour of the building, visiting all the rooms. Naturally, everyone was given the opportunity to ask questions. “It was an extremely diverse range of visitors, from young to old”, says Sietse de Vries, the site manager. “And they were here for various different reasons. Out of curiosity, for instance, but also because some of them were actually dealing with the organisation of a funeral. We received a lot of questions, which is always pleasant to us. It allows us to tell them about how we work, about the building and all the possibilities. People were highly impressed and that’s always a joy to see.”

On 02 November, Westerveld organised a special memorial evening. Hundreds of candles, torches and lanterns lit up the memorial park and, as they arrived, each of the visitors (approximately 5,000) were given a candle that they could leave in a special place. Reactions were extremely positive.

The lit route through the park led them along poems, music and a wall of flowers for memorial cards. Benches had been placed around intimate campfires in various places, allowing visitors to find some peace and quiet. A separate stand had been set up for children where they could decorate candles and where they could plant flower bulbs in a special area of heart-shaped soil.

Group reflection
Visitors were impressed by the atmosphere. “The park’s so beautifully lit, it’s almost like a fairy tale. It gives you a warm feeling, even though we’re here because of sad events. And reflecting with your family and others, people you don’t know but who are here for the same reason, it just feels nice”, one of the visitors said.

Voor wie steek jij een kaarsje op?
During the memorial evening at Westerveld, live recordings were made for the KRO-NCRV TV show ‘Voor wie steek jij een kaarsje op?’ (who will you light a candle for?). During the broadcast – which was presented by Anita Witzier – the focus was on reflection. People told stories about their deceased loved ones. A map of the Netherlands had been placed in an open spot in the park where people left candles and in the crematorium’s inner courtyard, Pearl, Karin Bloemen and Jamai performed comforting songs. You can watch the show here: https://www.kro-ncrv.nl/voorwiesteekjijeenkaarsjeop/seizoenen/seizoen-2017/voor-wie-steek-jij-een-kaarsje-op

Early in September, Niederrhein Willich Crematorium organised a regional meeting for funeral service providers from all around Willich. Many service providers were curious about the various options available at the crematorium so this informal meeting was, with more than 90 visitors, very well attended.

The guests were treated to a detailed guided tour of the monumental crematorium. Of course, the visit included an opportunity to look around the cremation area, where they were given an explanation of the environmentally-friendly system. Reactions were extremely positive. After the guided tour, the guests had the opportunity to talk with each other and the crematorium staff, whilst enjoying varied dishes and drinks.

Following the opening of the so-called HOV line (high-quality public transport) on 2 April 2017, Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium (Duin en Kruidbergerweg 2–6 in Driehuis) has its ‘own’ stop again: Driehuis-Westerveld. This means Westerveld will once more be accessible by public transport again via the new line between stations Haarlem and IJmuiden. “We’re bringing the past to life too”, says Westerveld director Carla Bosua, who is looking back on a long history. “Westerveld had its own train station for special mourning trains between Amsterdam and the cemetery as early as 1889. The fact that we’ve got a Driehuis-Westerveld stop again after all these years is very, very special.”

Maximum accessibility
Existing bus no. 75 will be travelling the new line from today. After the summer, R-net will start deploying no. 385, which will be replacing no. 75. “Westerveld already was accessible, but thanks to this HOV line, visitors are literally dropped off at the door. That means maximum accessibility by public transport”, says Carla Bosua.

The makers of the successful crime series ‘Penoza’ have opted for Westerveld as the venue for recording a number of scenes in the fifth (and final) season, as they did in the previous series. Recordings were made with the dome in the background and inside the monumental auditorium, which was designed by Dudok in 1936. The series is expected to be aired from September 2017 onward.

Penoza is about the Dutch underworld, where choices with regard to family, loyalty and money are made at daggers drawn. Penoza is portrayed as a family drama headed by Carmen (Monic Hendrickx) – a working mum with an exceptional profession. In addition to various nominations for the scenario and a Sound and Vision Award for star Monic Hendrickx, the series is also aired in an American, Polish and Russian version.