Zandvoorde – The village of Zandvoorde in Zonnebeke will inaugurate a modern cemetery in 2025 featuring a scattering meadow, a designated children’s area, options for natural burials, and pet burials. Mayor Koen Meersseman is overseeing the project, reports 24brussels.
Unlike many rural areas where small cemeteries have closed, Zonnebeke has opted to maintain local burial facilities. The new cemetery aims to address the increasing demand for burial spaces, as the old cemetery proved insufficient for the community’s needs.
Mayor Koen Meersseman (#TEAM8980) confirmed that the municipality has acquired land in the center of Zandvoorde to facilitate the new development. The project’s design ensures residents will continue to have convenient access to burial services while benefiting from modern amenities.
What features make Zandvoorde’s new cemetery in Zonnebeke modern and unique?
The cemetery will introduce natural burials, combining contemporary infrastructure with traditional funeral practices. “Natural burial is a new trend,” explained Mayor Meersseman. “The biodegradable urns will be buried in the ground, and a memorial plaque will be placed nearby.”
Natural burial is a new trend, explains the mayor.
The cemetery will also feature a scattering meadow and a dedicated children’s area serving as a memorial space for stillborn infants. The municipality has selected the dandelion as the cemetery’s symbol, designed to create a thoughtful and tranquil environment catering to the community’s needs.
The construction of the cemetery has been completed, and it will soon open to the public. Concurrently, the municipal council has approved new burial regulations, which now include provisions for deceased pets to be interred with their owners.
Zandvoorde’s existing cemetery has served local families since the mid-20th century but became increasingly inadequate by the 2010s. In response, Zonnebeke municipality initiated plans for a modern cemetery in 2022, with construction commencing in 2024 focused on innovative features.
