Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium is one of the oldest private cemeteries in the Netherlands and was the country’s first
crematorium. The Westerveld country estate was converted by Royal Assent on 23 July, 1888, to ‘a unique cemetery, accessible to all denominations’. On 1 May, 1890, the cemetery was officially opened. It was designed by Haarlem’s well-known landscape gardener, L. Zocher.
In 1913, the first crematorium in the Netherlands was constructed at Westerveld. It was commissioned by the Royal Dutch Cremation Society ‘the Facultatieve’, which had played a leading role in the field of cremation in the Netherlands since its creation in 1874.
Westerveld lies in an area of dunes that includes a bird sanctuary. The former country estate, which is more than 31 hectares in size and includes many monuments, has a very special character. Its undulating surface and diversity of flora are unique in the context of the Netherlands. This means that Westerveld is not only a last resting place, but also a favourite place for walkers. Despite the fact that it is one of the largest cemeteries in the Netherlands, it is primarily an oasis of peace and tranquillity. Westerveld allows bereaved people plenty of space to commemorate and remember.
Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium rises above the ‘regional’ function that typifies most cemeteries and crematoria. Thanks to its monumental character, the stunning nature that surrounds it and its countless possibilities, Westerveld plays a prominent role as a ‘national’ cemetery and crematorium.
