Begraafplaats

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

Description

DEVELOPMENT of the Algemene Begraafplaats Naarden on the Amersfoortsestraatweg in Bussum, dating from 1830. The cemetery covers just over one and a half hectares, is rectangular in shape and is surrounded on all sides by tall trees and shrubs. The site is bounded on the entrance side, the east side, by the Amersfoortsestraatweg with ventage road (former national highway A1), on the northwest side by a strip of wooded plantation incorporating a cycle path with the Brediusweg behind it, in the southwest by the grounds of the Montessorischool and on the southeast side runs a sandy path, the Nicolaas Beetspad. On the other side of this path lies the Roman Catholic cemetery of Naarden.

Following the Royal Decree of 18 May 1825, which prohibited further burials within the built-up area and in churches, the Provincial States of North Holland instructed the municipality of Naarden in 1827 to "establish a suitable cemetery outside the city". The date by which the cemetery had to be ready was set at 1 May 1830. For 560 guilders, a wooded plot was purchased measuring 1 bunder and 67 roods, approximately one and a half hectares. The plot was situated on the Bussumse Eng on the then road from Naarden to Laren (Amersfoortsestraatweg). The land lay on high sandy ground just over 1300 metres outside the fortress. Thus the intended cemetery lay outside the belt of 300 roods (1130 metres) that was necessary to maintain a good field of fire from the fortress. This so-called glacis was required according to the so-called ring law to remain free from permanent buildings. Only wooden structures were permitted within the field of fire. An access gate was built at the through road. At the end of the main axis a mortuary chapel was built, which was later replaced by the current mortuary chapel.

Tree nursery owner J. Jurrissen was involved in supplying trees for the formal and austere layout. The available land was divided into two burial fields, one for the reformed community and one for Catholics, separated by a broad main axis. How these fields were precisely situated has not been determined to this day. For the Jewish residents a separate cemetery was created in the northwest corner. They were given the right of passage from the entrance of the general cemetery on the Amersfoortsestraatweg to their own access gate. Halfway along the main axis runs a cross path, giving the cemetery a clear cross shape. The main axis ends at the mortuary chapel on the west side.

In 1830 the first burial fields, Block I and II, were taken into use. At Block I the gravestones of the graves were placed adjacently, paved like a church floor with grave slabs. At Block II work initially proceeded in the same manner, but at a later stage alternating rows of graves were cleared, creating paths between the rows. Through this clearing all graves in this block became more easily accessible and it became unnecessary to step on other grave slabs. In 1916 Block III was laid out in the fashion of that time in the so-called new architectural garden style. This block is subdivided into so-called chambers. Court C, D and F are separated from each other by yew hedges. There are also rows of graves on the outside of the courts. On the other side of Block III, yew hedges were planted across the main avenue at the same time with hired graves between them (Block IV). The most significant alteration to the cemetery took place in 1938. Then a long strip of land outside the original layout was attached to the cemetery. The narrow strip along Block II provided space for two rows of graves (Block V). This part was separated from Block II by the beech hedge which originally formed the boundary of the cemetery. At the same time the layout of Block IV was modified such that by moving yew hedges, at the expense of hired graves, more space was created for children's graves and private graves. The need to expand the cemetery grew ever greater but its realisation was not possible. To the north lay the Catholic cemetery and the development of Bussum had meanwhile advanced so far that expansion was no longer possible on the other sides either. Attaching the strip along block II was the last possibility. The municipality of Naarden had already found a location for the new cemetery in 1937, situated south of Oud Valkeveen. Not until 1944 was the new general cemetery of Naarden taken into use. After that, on the old cemetery, with few exceptions, only burials in private graves took place.

In 1882 the line of the Gooische Stoomtram from Amsterdam via Naarden to Laren was laid alongside the cemetery. The tram rails were laid between the road and the cemetery. As a result the approach and exit road halfway through was crossed by the track. After the closure of the tram in 1942 a broad ventage road was laid in its place and the access path to the cemetery was shortened by half. The old approach and exit road was converted into a turning loop with a small planted area in the middle.

The cemetery is screened by a dense green border. In the border part of the beech hedge can still be recognised, but the appearance is predominantly determined by tall, old trees (beeches, oaks, birches, chestnut trees and pines). The cemetery itself is also characterised by much greenery. The main avenue is lined with lime trees, but this lining is no longer completely intact. Over time some lime trees have been replaced by larches. At the end of the 20th century the earth banks along the main axis were replanted with ivy, a planting which was also included in the original design but which had largely disappeared over the years. The once so open fields have been considerably changed by overgrown grave plantings (including fine weeping trees) and various unwanted and prolific growth of black cherry, maple, rowan and oak. Ivy, other low-growing vegetation and mosses are also flourishing. All this means that the cemetery gives a 'friendlier' impression than perhaps was intended by the formally and austerely designed layout.

Valuation

The DEVELOPMENT of the "Algemene Begraafplaats Amersfoortsestraatweg" in Bussum is of general importance on grounds of cultural and architectural-historical, as well as garden and funeral-historical value as an early example of a general cemetery with a formal and austere layout. The still clearly recognisable formal layout can be seen as a counterpart to the many landscaped municipal cemeteries of that period.