Blankenberge Cemetery

The Blankenberge municipal cemetery was established in 1908 and underwent several phases of expansion in the following decades. In 2010, the cemetery was included in the Inventory of Architectural Heritage. The cemetery is located on the sharp dividing line between the city centre and the open polder landscape.

The master plan provides for the redevelopment of the existing cemetery and an expansion zone for cremation gardens and ceremonial farewells.

Redevelopment of the cemetery – Remembrance in a romantic park cemetery

Maintaining the authentic romantic character is essential. In contrast, our present time expects sufficient softening with only the main paths remaining paved. This automatically creates more opportunities for greening, leaving burial rows in the grass. Planting perennials between the graves and many tall-stemmed trees will transform the cemetery into a beautiful and valuable park cemetery.

Cemetery expansion – Saying goodbye in ancient meadow landscape

The 2-metre lowered extension zone forms a link between the old cemetery and the open landscape of the Uitkerk polder. This ancient meadow landscape is a highly valuable natural area. To anchor the landscaping of the expansion zone with the old cemetery on the one hand and with the open nature area on the other, I see a wonderful opportunity to create a very unique place.

A long sloping path provides a comfortable connection between the two parts of the cemetery and, by turning away with a tree avenue, forms the separation between a newly created park cemetery and a landscape cemetery. Walking and cycling paths along the Uitkerk polder are connected to the tree avenue. The new park area provides urn and columbarium fields, a children’s cemetery with star garden and wide green buffers with native trees.

A memorial wall at the edge of the tree avenue separates it from a very large scattering meadow. The edge of the spreading meadow is formed by a widening of the watercourse at its separation from the Uitkerk polder. This open landscape park contains a circular farewell and memorial site. The nature of the polder is literally drawn into the cemetery. The anchoring of the landscaping with the nature reserve ensures that people can say goodbye in the beauty of the ancient meadow landscape.