Westerveld

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

Introduction

PARK LAYOUT of the Westerveld cemetery, realised between 1888 and 1890 after a design by L.P. Zocher. The layout was executed in the English landscape style, whereby Zocher made use of the natural topography of the site. Later extensions were executed in the same style. The eastern winding path running between sections A and F was laid out by Zocher as a beech avenue, but in the 20th century the beeches were replaced by horse chestnuts.

Description

The oldest section of the cemetery, put into use in 1890, is situated at the eastern edge of the dune area on the transition from the dunes to the flatter terrain to the east of this. By making use of this natural transition, the oldest section has a varied and broadly two-part layout with a western half set against a dune slope that transitions into a fairly flat eastern half. Both against the dune slope and in the flatter terrain run winding paths, of which the most important, like the terrain itself, are oriented east-west. The dune slope was planted by Zocher with various types of deciduous trees, in particular beeches and along the east side of the lowest path also oaks, lindens and (at the rear) a plane tree. In addition to deciduous trees he also used coniferous trees, including yews. At the intersection of the two winding paths between sections D, E, F and G in section F there stood a group of yews of which one remains. At the same intersection in section G stood an acacia. Other intersections of paths in the eastern half are also planted, creating a varied walk through alternating planted sections and more open areas that offer clear views, particularly of the lower-lying eastern half of the cemetery. This half Zocher kept relatively open, apart from the aforementioned beech avenue along the eastern edge, with a few solitary trees along the paths. The intervening (grass) plots become larger in a northerly direction: two small oval-shaped plots near the entrance, followed by a larger roughly semicircular plot (section D), and then a large and somewhat irregularly shaped open central area (section F). Of the solitary trees the weeping beech near the entrance (south side of section D), appropriate for a cemetery, is particularly striking visually. The adjacent oak, given its age, is possibly an existing tree retained during the layout. The solitary beech in the rear half of the large central plot also belongs to the original layout. Originally elms were also present, but these were felled due to Dutch elm disease. The winding paths of the oldest section continue into the later extensions. This dune area, also put into use later, is planted with various types of deciduous and coniferous trees and coppice. In the section to the west of the first layout there is a dune ridge in which a number of above-ground grave vaults from shortly after the turn of the century are located.

Valuation

The landscaped park layout with associated path systems and planting is of general importance as a historical-functional and structuring component of Westerveld cemetery; due to the design quality and the relative integrity of the layout; as a characteristic design by L.P. Zocher from 1888.