Operation of Westerveld Cemetery to 'the Facultatieve Group'

The operation of Westerveld Cemetery was transferred to 'the Facultatieve Group' as of 1 January 2004, in connection with the Group's broad experience in the field of burials and cremations. Westerveld Cemetery and Velsen Crematorium (in Driehuis, the Netherlands) will now continue under the new name Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium. The ‘new’ organisation became official with the unveiling of a plaque on 9 January 2004, by Mr H.L. Hubrecht (Chairman of the Board of the Dutch Cemetery Westerveld Foundation) and Mr J.M.H.J. Keizer, Chairman of the Board of 'the Facultatieve Group'. Opened on 1 May 1890, Westerveld Cemetery is one of the oldest private cemeteries in the Netherlands. Westerveld made international news in 2002, in connection with the temporary burial of the murdered politician Pim Fortuyn. Velsen Crematorium – a listed building – was built in 1913 and was the first in the Netherlands. The crematorium made an important piece of history with its first cremation, on 1 April 1914. “Westerveld Cemetery and Velsen Crematorium have cooperated closely for many years”, said Mr J.M.H.J. Keizer, Chairman of the Executive Board of 'the Facultatieve Group'. “The unique Petit Café Westerveld, opened in 2001, is a good example of that. The fact that the cemetery and crematorium have now actually become one means that the service of the two organisations will be fully integrated, and that will enable the high level of service to be further optimised.” For more information: www.bc-westerveld.nl