Interment

Urn garden
Behind the crematorium is a beautiful park that hosts a very extensive urn garden. Urns and urn graves are sited along the paths.

One of the many monuments in our garden is that of the well-known author Multatuli (Eduard Douwes Dekker). As far as we know, Multatuli was the first Dutch person to be cremated. The ceremony took place in Germany in 1887, as cremation was still illegal in the Netherlands at that time. His ashes were interred at Westerveld at a later date.

The Beukenhof and Het Klaverblad are urn gardens that are specially laid out for placing new and unusual urns and urn graves. In the Beukenhof is a memorial on which name plates can be placed in remembrance of those whose ashes have been scattered.

Urns
An urn can be rented for a specific period. Urns are suited for up to two ash containers.

Urn grave
We can also place ash containers in urn graves. An urn grave can accommodate four to six ash containers and can be rented for a specific period. The grave is covered with a natural stone slab or a memorial. Between the larger graves in the cemetery, special urn graves are issued for both limited and unlimited terms. We can place ashes either in or on these graves, or alternatively scatter them. It is even possible to inter ashes or scatter them in or on a grave plot containing buried remains. We would also be delighted to inform you about the options for placing a memorial plaque on (urn) graves. Entirely free of obligation of course.

Columbaria
Westerveld offers the possibility of interring ashes in one of six columbaria. Each columbarium has its own unique style and character, and contains niches in which urns are placed. These urns contain up to two ash containers. There are also niches that can be sealed with a so-called 'face plate', and can take up to six ash containers.

Columbarium I
Columbarium I – Columbarium Vaillant – was the first columbarium in the Netherlands. It contains among others the urn of Dr C.J. Vaillant, who was the first person to be cremated in the then Crematorium Velsen on 1 April 1914. In columbarium I you can buy a niche for an unlimited term. Given the monumental character of this columbarium, only black marble urns can be interred here. This is also the case for the 'free space' of columbarium II.

Columbarium II, III, IV and V
These columbaria consist of both indoor and outdoor urn galleries. They were built under the supervision of the well-known architect Willem Marinus Dudok. As with columbarium I, only black marble urns may be interred in columbarium II.

Columbarium VI
The Van Dam pavilion is finished in modern colourful hues and lies in the middle of a wooded area behind the crematorium. It is possible to rent a niche in this pavilion for a limited term. Ornamental urns interred here can accommodate one ash container and are all the same shape. The urns are available in four different materials. The concrete urn can be painted by the owner to give a truly individual character. An alternative is to inscribe the urn with a family crest or a certain symbol.

Children’s corner
People who have lost a young child can inter the ashes in a separate children’s corner. Special memorials in the shape of a teddy bear, a toadstool or perhaps a favourite toy are among the options here.