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All the Netherlands Westerveld Crematorium

Westerveld Crematorium

The first crematorium in the Netherlands.

Driehuis, Netherlands

Added By
Suzanne Hendriks
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Westerveld Crematorium, built in 1913   historynerdxl / Atlas Obscura User
Westerveld Crematorium, built in 1913   historynerdxl / Atlas Obscura User
Westerveld Crematorium, built in 1913   historynerdxl / Atlas Obscura User
Urnfield at Westerveld cemetary   historynerdxl / Atlas Obscura User
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About

At the end of the 19th century, there were only a handful of people who thought cremation was a good idea. They were actively trying to convince other people that cremation was the modern, more hygienic, and less space-consuming way to deal with the dead.

One of these early activists was Dutch writer Eduard Douwes Dekker, better known as Multatuli. By the time he died, cremation was still illegal in the Netherlands, he was cremated in Germany and his ashes were taken to the Westerveld cemetery.

In 1913, the first crematorium in the Netherlands was built by famous architect Willem Dudok. He also designed the first urns also found in Westerveld. It wasn't until 1955 that cremations were fully legalized, but the crematorium at Westerveld was operating since 1914 nonetheless.

 

 

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Cemeteries Cremation Burial Places

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The whole cemetary is beautifully located on a hilly part of Driehuis and contains graves (and urns) of quite a few famous Dutch people, like Anthony Fokker (the aerial pioneer).

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historynerdxl

Published

April 24, 2023

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Westerveld Crematorium
2- 6 Duin- en Kruidbergerweg
Driehuis, 1985 HG
Netherlands
52.444299, 4.632113
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