Some 130,000 visitors from more than 120 countries attended the world’s largest medical trade fair – Medica – which was held in Dusseldorf from 17th to 20th November. Over 5,000 exhibitors from across the globe presented a wide array of medical products and services.

There was a great deal of interest in the sophisticated dissection tables displayed by Funeralia, particularly the ergonomic design and wide range of options available. This applied also to their body tray lifters for transporting the deceased. With over 45 years of experience, and with its own in-house design and production facilities, Funeralia ensures they provide that ‘Made in Germany’ quality.

Funeralia, part of ‘the Facultatieve Group’, supplies a wide range of medical products, including dissection tables and body tray lifters for pathology, anatomic and judicial medical organizations, and for caring for the deceased in hospitals and care homes.

At the end of November, Niederrhein Willich Crematorium organised a regional autumn meeting for funeral service providers and their staff. This informal meeting was well-attended. Many service providers were curious about the various options which are available at the crematorium.

The guests were treated to a detailed guided tour of the monumental crematorium and were of course given the opportunity to have a look around in the cremation area, where they were given an explanation of the environmentally-friendly system. Reactions were positive. After the guided tour, guests had the opportunity to talk with each other and the crematorium staff, while enjoying winter dishes such as pea soup and glühwein.

On Sunday 25 October, ‘De Boskamp’ organised the commemoration service ‘Alom Gedenken’. This service is intended for anyone who has lost a loved one.  Nearly six hundred people visited the atmospheric memorial park.

During the evening they lit candles and placed commemorative stones. Special commemorative bags were also available, containing a candle and photo of a loved one. The many visitors walked through the candle and torch-adorned memorial park either in groups or by themselves. During the walk they listened to personal songs sung by various choirs. There was a dance group too and poetry readings.

This was the 6th ‘Alom Gedenken’ commemoration service. Sietse de Vries, site manager of De Boskamp Funeral Parlour & Crematorium, has noticed a demand: “Commemorating together, as a group, in such special and atmospheric surroundings really does something to you. Despite the grief and subject, evenings like this give you a warm feeling and it helps the bereaved deal with their loss.”

Since its incorporation in 1874, ‘the Facultatieve Group’ has had close ties with The Hague. For instance, the Head office of the Group has remained located in the residence during all those years.

Within that framework, ‘the Facultatieve Group’ is the proud main sponsor of the Dutch exhibition, ‘Held op Sokkel’ (Hero on Socle), which is held at the Historical Museum of The Hague.

The exhibition, which was opened by Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix on 2 October, is organised in celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Geschiedkundige Vereniging Die Haghe. A book, called ‘Den Haag in Beelden’ (The Hague in Statues), was also published.

Across the city of The Hague you can find more than five hundred special sculptures. Some of them were erected in memory of important (national) events and famous persons. From William of Orange, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, Hugo Grotius and Queen Wilhelmina to Willem Drees, Louis Couperus, Wim Kan and Aad Mansveld.

The ‘Held op Sokkel’ exhibition at the Historical Museum of The Hague runs until 14 February 2016

 Korte Vijverberg 7
 The Hague (NL)
 www.haagshistorischmuseum.nl