Hilversum funerary foundation expands Muslim burial place: ‘Another question arises’

Hilversum has three municipal cemeteries: Zuiderhof, Bosdrift and Noorderbegraafplaats. Since 2016, there has been room for Muslims in the latter location. More Muslims have been buried here since the corona period. This had to do with the flight ban in effect at the time, meaning the deceased could not be brought back to their country of origin. Homecoming, as it is officially called, was not possible.

Van Loon also sees an increase in demand for Muslim cemeteries in Hilversum. This is not only the result of corona. More and more Muslims, the descendants of the first generation of guest workers for example, want to find their final resting place in their community. “It is very important that people die here and find their peace here too,” she says.

green light

Since the Funeral Delivery Act was amended in 2021, Van Loon, as Director of the USH, has implemented Eternal Grave Rest immediately. Van Loon says she quickly got the go-ahead from the mayor and aldermen to implement the eternal rest of the grave. This makes it possible for the Funerary Foundation to, among other things, post dozens of natural graves on the Bosdrift.

In addition to the comfort of the eternal grave, there is still plenty of room in the tombs. Hilversum, unlike many other Dutch municipalities, can easily expend many graves in the coming years before there is a problem with capacity. Certainly there is still enough space in the Zuiderhof on the Kolhornseweg and the Noorderbegraafplaats in Laan 1940-1945.

outstretched hand

Last month, the Muslim community in Hilversum made an appeal to the municipality. They want more attention to Islamic burial with the eternal rest of the grave associated with it. To their outstretched pleasure, Van Loon and local councilor Arnaud Schippers accept him, although there is no date on the agendas yet.

Even before they sit around the table, there is good news for the Muslim community in Hilversum. The funeral institution will provide more space for Islamic burials at Noorderbegraafplaats.

Almost three times bigger

“I have space to anticipate what happens in the community,” says Van Loon. “So we’re going to expand the field with Islamic cemeteries here. It’s going to be three times bigger than it is now.” “I think this is necessary because there is a need for it. We as a funeral home are really there for everyone. And that means you have to think about what the question is, what the different cultures want and also the background,” says the rest of her statement.

Van Lun is keen on innovation. In addition to realizing natural cemeteries and more space for Muslims, she wants to realize the so-called embryo field in the Norddy cemetery, among others. Parents of babies who died after 24 weeks could be housed there. Under innovation, the director also includes listening carefully to the wishes of the community.

Think long

So she wants to know what the Muslim community needs. How do they see the Islamic cemetery? In other municipalities such as Almere and Raalti, the Islamic part looks a little different from the rest of the cemetery. And gave an example that the graves may be close to each other.

You can certainly talk to her about that, precisely because society has changed a lot and thus the demand. According to her, openness to other forms also requires looking at things from a different perspective. She says the “Dutch mentality is dominant” is still too much at the moment. Thinking and helping does not mean that he hands over exploitation and management. This definitely won’t happen.