2024-01-07 12:17:00
The old Wezembeek-Oppem cemetery still exists, at least partially, with some very old tombs which proudly surround, over the years, the Saint-Pierre church located in the center of the eponymous square in front of the Burbure castle. A more recent communal cemetery was built on rue du Cimetière along the ponds fed by the small stream “Wezembeek”.
Around the Saint-Pierre church in the eponymous Parvis, some tombs remain from the old religious cemetery ©Caroline Vanbossel
The Woluwe-Saint-Lambert cemetery moves to Wezembeek-Oppem
The very first cemetery in this town was located around the Saint-Lambert church, a few rare tombs still remain, then another cemetery was functional from 1898 to 1966 at the rear of the Poseidon swimming pool, avenue du Dernier Repos. The old cemetery was located in the immediate vicinity of the heart of the village, near the church and the old town hall. As it had to be expanded 4 times between 1920 and 1960 due to demographic pressure, formerly surrounded by fields and now found in the middle of the city, expanding it further became impossible. From then on, after looking in vain for spaces along the Chaussée de Stockel, it was decided to acquire agricultural land in the neighboring town of Wezembeek outside Brussels, on a plot of 5 hectares at a place called “Bauwenberg ”.
The land was purchased by expropriation for reasons of public utility for an amount of 5,043,200 Belgian francs in August 1961 at the price of 100 francs per m² from the Widow of Paul Lippens-Orban, and the commune was able to dispose of it from of March 1, 1962. However, the commune of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert still maintains a morgue in the Poseidon cemetery, in order to be able to keep the bodies within the jurisdiction of its police zone and the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office.
And also the Etterbeek cemetery
The Etterbeek cemetery from 1897 to 1958 was located… in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, at Square Vergote, now Georges Henri Park, then moved again on March 3, 1958, to rue du Long Chêne becoming the 4th cemetery established on the territory of the small community with facilities of Wezembeek-Oppem.
“Last known homes”
This work by Thierry Luthers, journalist and producer at RTBF, is a guide to personalities, little, moderately or very well known, buried or cremated in the Brussels region and in the municipalities on the outskirts of the Hal-Vilvoorde district. Didactic, well structured, complete, easy to consult, this book provides precise information on the situation of tombs and monuments in each cemetery accompanied by a short biography of the deceased person and color photos of the main funerary monuments. Published by “Nouvelle édition”, at the price of €25, it is truly a historical, heritage, methodical and very informative inventory.
1704677538
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