Impressive night of commemoration at Westerveld Memorial Park

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On Monday 2 November, Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium in Driehuis organised a special commemorative evening at the memorial park. During this evening, when everyone commemorated their loved ones, the monumental park was lit up with atmospheric lighting. There was music in various places throughout the park and visitors planted flower bulbs in memory of their loved ones.  Children stuck special stickers on candles and poems were displayed along the illuminated walking route. There was a special wall of flowers too and the visitors (more than 3,500) could light candles and place them on the special ‘candle steps’. Because of the unique nature of the event, KRO-NCRV decided – as last year – to broadcast the event live from Westerveld.

Commemorating together
“We’ve noticed a growing demand for commemorating together”, says Carla Bosua, Director of Westerveld. “People find solace in reminiscing together and they notice they are not alone in this. United, yet very intimate. That’s why we organised a commemorative evening this year too, giving everyone the opportunity to light a candle in memory of a loved one.”
Because of the unique nature of the memorial park, KRO-NCRV had decided to broadcast the event live from Westerveld. Commemoration was the theme of the ‘Voor wie steek jij een kaarsje op?’ show, presented by Anita Witzier. Stories were told about loved ones. In the enclosed garden of the crematorium, famous Dutch artists such as Mathilde Santing and Xander de Buisonjé sang comforting songs.

2018-05-17T12:40:54+00:002 November, 2015|

Many visitors at ‘Alom Gedenken’

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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.”

2018-05-17T12:40:55+00:0029 October, 2015|

‘the Facultatieve Group’ main sponsor ‘Held op Sokkel’

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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

 

2018-05-17T12:40:55+00:009 October, 2015|

Lovely Autumn Walk

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On Sunday 4 October, Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium – part of ‘the Facultatieve Group’ – organised an autumn walk through the tasteful memorial park. Expert guides took visitors on a two-hour walk past special monuments, surrounded by nature. The visitors were impressed by the breathtaking beauty of the park with vistas, backdrops and open stretches that typify Westerveld memorial park.

The walkers were highly enthusiastic. They enjoyed the stories and nature in this beautiful time of year.

2018-05-17T12:40:55+00:007 October, 2015|

Hygeco Trophy 2015 a big success

On 8 September, the battle for the ‘Hygeco Trophy’ took place for the 18th time at the ‘du Lys’ golf club in Chantilly near Paris. With around 200 participants from Germany, France, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy and elsewhere, this international golf & tennis tournament for the funerary industry was a big success. For Hygeco, part of ‘the Facultatieve Group’, it was the perfect opportunity to meet its partners.

In addition to golf tournaments during the day, there were also clinics for golfing beginners and a tennis competition. The event was concluded with an awards ceremony.

2015-12-11T13:03:01+00:0029 September, 2015|

FT II installed in Krematorium Memmingen (Germany)

FT2MemmingenKrematorium Memmingen – part of ‘the Facultatieve Group’ -in the south of Germany, has been using a second FT cremator with a fully automatic insertion machine since the autumn of 2015. This second cremator of Facultatieve Technologies is connected to the existing double stream filter, which is designed to serve two cremators.

2018-05-17T12:40:56+00:0021 September, 2015|

Positive developments in 2014

“2014 was a year of positive developments for our Group. A growing number of families in the Netherlands and in Germany opted for the personalised services offered by our crematoria and cemeteries”, said Henry Keizer, President & CEO of ‘the Facultatieve Group’. “Furthermore, Facultatieve Technologies booked some major successes in the US and Canadian markets. Under the difficult economic conditions of 2014, our staff managed to realise some great results. With offices and operations across the world, global economic developments have an impact on all our Group’s activities”, said Henry Keizer. “Which is why I’m so happy and proud that we have managed to show such a positive result of € 3.5 million after tax. It just goes to show how resilient our Group and its employees are.”

The number of ceremonies that ‘the Facultatieve Group’ provided rose in 2014 by 5% to 16,054. “By offering top-quality services geared to people’s individual wishes, we have managed to maintain our market share in the Netherlands at around 10%. Facultatieve Deutschland provided nearly 7,000 cremations in 2014 (2013: 6,000), further expanding our market share in Germany.”

Facultatieve Technologies continues to develop positively. “The combination of designing, building and maintaining the systems is becoming increasingly important. Thanks to our own service teams in different countries and our proprietary software for remote diagnostics and changes, we always respond quickly and efficiently. New products are developed – often together with clients – for finding the best solution within a project.”

Dealing with over 19,000 deceased persons, around 100,000 thanatopraxy treatments and some 16,000 transport movements, Hygeco’s Post Mortem Assistance showed a further strengthening of its growth in France in 2014.

 

2018-05-17T12:40:56+00:0014 July, 2015|

Funeral service providers very impressed by range of post-funeral reception options

Niederrhein-condolIn the German context, Krematorium Niederrhein Willich – part of ‘the Facultatieve Group’ – provides many unique options that very few other crematoria in Germany can offer to relatives of the deceased. The Crematorium recently held an evening for funeral service providers and their staff. Over one hundred professionals from around the region visited the crematorium to see the options with their own eyes.

The visitors were given a guided tour of the unique auditoriums, the visiting rooms and the cremation area. Attention was given also to the reception rooms.

Niederrhein Willich Crematorium provides the opportunity to relatives to hold a post-funeral reception after the ceremony if the relatives so wish. The Crematorium has various tastefully decorated reception rooms with extensive gastronomic possibilities, which can cater also for larger groups.

After the tours, visitors were introduced to a number of these gastronomic delights and chatted with colleagues and other business contacts.

2018-05-17T12:40:56+00:0010 July, 2015|

Memmingen Crematorium donates 38,500 euros to projects in Memmingen

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Memmingen Crematorium today donated a sum of 38,500 euros to various projects in Memmingen involved in youthwork, culture and training. Under the watchful eye of Mayor Ivo Holzinger, Stefan van Dorsser, CEO of Memmingen Crematorium, handed over a total of 38,500 euro. Part of that went to the Memmingen children’s hospital for a new play area. And the Roman Catholic Church of St. Josef received a cheque too for renovation of its facade. The Memmingen urban schools community and the contact group for the disabled in Memmingen (the Behinderten-Kontaktgruppe Memmingen e.V.) also got a cheque to restore a wing of their building and as a contribution to a new vehicle.

Memmingen Crematorium
“Since the opening in 2006, Memmingen crematorium has played an important role in the lives of many people in Memmingen and environs”, said Henry Keizer, CEO of ‘the Facultatieve Group’. “Based on this role and our sense of social responsibility, it therefore gives us great pleasure to contribute to these worthy projects that benefit all residents of Memmingen.” The Memmingen Crematorium – part of ‘the Facultatieve Group’ – opened its doors in October 2006 on the Waldfriedhofstraße 4a. With many years of experience and its vast pool of expertise, ‘the Facultatieve Group’ guarantees that funeral ceremonies at Memmingen crematorium are handled with the respect they deserve. Key to this is an optimum service with scope of personal input to fulfil the wishes of the deceased and those they leave behind.

2018-05-17T12:40:57+00:002 July, 2015|

Tearoom Moscowa opened and walking route revealed

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Over the last six months, the former manager’s house at Moscowa Cemetery (Waterbergseweg, Arnhem), has been refurbished and converted into ‘Tearoom Moscowa’. The tearoom – built in 1954 and listed on the municipal historic buildings register – was officially opened by Mr Kaiser, Mayor of Arnhem and Henry Keizer, President & CEO of ‘the Facultatieve Group’, on 3 June 2015. On that occasion, the walking route ‘Walking at Moscowa’ was also revealed.

“Moscowa is a popular walking area and we have been frequently reminded of the need for a place where visitors can have something to eat and drink”, André Kruijmer, location manager, explains. “We are pleased that the tearoom will be able to meet that demand, yet visitors can also call in on here with questions about the location of a certain grave for example, or to buy some flowers.” Tearoom Moscowa is opened seven days a week, from 10am to 4pm.

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Walking at Moscowa
Moscowa is worth visiting not only to experience the ambience of a typical Arnhem cemetery, but also from a nature and historical (art) point of view. The memorial park is a popular walking area to many. At the same time it is a park which holds many historical facts. In order to make these more visible, twenty information signs were recently erected in the park and a guide was compiled: ‘Walking at Moscowa’. This booklet, which is available from the new Moscowa Tearoom, leads visitors along paths by numerous monuments and beautiful spots.

Cultural and historic value
Moscowa is a (monumental) memorial park with a history dating back as far as 1873. Thanks to the ancient graves and the large diversity in the landscape, the park also holds a high cultural and historic value. After all, there is a reason why in 2013 Moscowa was the second cemetery in the Netherlands to be admitted to the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE). Members of this prestigious organization of special cemeteries include the monumental Père-Lachaise in Paris, Montjuic in Barcelona, Cimitero del Verano in Rome and Westerveld in Driehuis (Municipality of Velsen).

2018-05-17T12:40:57+00:003 June, 2015|
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