Kalmthout – Eddy Buysen, 77, from Kalmthout, has amassed an impressive collection of 8,000 funeral notices over 60 years. His exhibition, running from August 15 to 19, 2025, at the Sint-Vincentius residential care centre, features a range of notices, including those for Mother Teresa and former Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene, reports 24brussels.
As reported by VRT News, Buysen’s fascination with funeral notices began at the age of 16 and has continued throughout his life. The collection he has cultivated over the decades showcases an extensive variety of designs and materials.
The exhibition, titled “The History of the Death Notice,” will display approximately a quarter of his collection, enabling visitors to observe how funeral notices have evolved throughout the years. The displayed items feature an array of colours, shapes, and materials.
What does Eddy Buysen’s exhibition of 8,000 funeral notices show?
Buysen’s interest transcends the physical items. “In this exhibition, I show how death notices evolved. I collect them in as many different materials, colours, and shapes as possible. The history surrounding them appeals to me,” he explains. His collection includes both simple black-and-white notices and vibrant, decorated versions, each reflecting the customs and memories of past generations.
This extensive collection features obituaries for notable figures, including Mother Teresa, Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene, and cartoonist Willy Vandersteen. When asked how he obtains these notices, Buysen clarifies that he does not attend funerals to acquire them.
“With famous people, you can get a card quite easily by writing to an acquaintance. So I collect them through connections,” he states.
Buysen possesses almost all the obituaries of popes from 1799 to Pope Francis, along with over 120 from the Belgian Royal Family. He notes, “King Leopold was a Protestant, so there’s no obituary for him.”
The uniqueness of his collection is further highlighted by the diverse materials used for the obituaries. While most consider funeral notices as paper items, Buysen possesses examples printed on parchment, porcelain, and silk. Historically, obituaries were sometimes printed on playing cards when other paper resources were unavailable.
“I’ll keep going as long as my health allows,” says Buysen.
Additionally, exhibitions in Antwerp have featured vintage postcards and funeral cards from the 19th and 20th centuries, while Ghent has hosted projects celebrating local commemoration practices through letters and memorial cards. Similar to Buysen’s exhibition, these events aim to preserve rare and fragile items, educating visitors about social history, traditions, and the artistic value of everyday objects.
