Yesterday we were visiting crematorium Hofheide in Holsbeek, Belgium. The director Jaques Roggen was very kind to take time to answer our questions and show us around. They are still very busy since the crematorium is brand new. We had payed a short visited berfore during the overcrowded public opening but our impression was quite different now. This time we could experience the building as it was intended: in quiet.

Last thursday we visited the ‘Heimolen crematorium’ in Sint Niklaas, Belgium. The crematorium was designed by the Dutch architecture office Claus & Kaan. The crematorium is built near an existing cemetery in Sint Niklaas the capital and major city of the Waasland region in East Flanders. Director Kris Coenegrachts showed us around and provided us with very valuable information. Not only about the design and workings of the crematorium, in which he was very eloquent but also some very interesting background information.  Crematoria in Belgium are in considered a public service, so it is not left to the market to decide if a crematorium is built. In contrast, in the Netherlands most of the the cremation facilities are left to commercial funeral companies.

What is very interesting for our research is to see whether politics have consequences on the funeral proces and the quality of the crematoria.

Crematorium Heimolen consists of three buildings:  a ceremonial building, a restaurant and the actual cremation facility. The first two are connected under a single big roof, while the cremation building is located in the back of the cemetery. The picture at the left shows the clean peaceful interior of the cremation room. People are offered the possibility to be present at the actual cremation of their beloved ones.

The organized and fresh architecture creates a very natural atmosphere which is at the same time intimate and warm.

The name of this crematorium in Kortrijk Belgium translates as ‘view’ which seems odd when you realise this building is for the most part underground. The building designed by the Portuguese architect Souto de Moura is very intriguing, and only when you leave the building in the end you understand why the name is perfectly chosen.

Last week we visited crematorium ‘Meerbloemhof’ at Zoetermeer. This crematorium is designed by Martijn de Gier from KBNG architects.
The building was built in 2005 at an existing cemetery in a recreation area in Zoetermeer. We were given a tour around the building by the manager Jeanine van den Brink and architect Martijn de Gier.

Today I visited the ‘Nieuwe Noorder’ a crematorium designed by architects Gianni Cito and Herman Zeinstra. This absolutely beautiful building was built at an existing cemetery in the Northern district of Amsterdam. I was given a tour around the building by the manager Dick Devente and architect Gianni Cito, both provided very valuable information for our research.

The transparent architecture creates a very open atmosphere which is at the same time intimate and warm. The freshness of this design is also very striking, it is not stressing the sadness and sorrow, no depressions here.. instead there is the melancholic humming of bees and birds singing the blues in sunny trees.