Netherlands: More Muslims choose local burial

The number of special Muslim sections in cemeteries is increasing. Muslims can be buried with their own rituals. The top request of Muslims who have passed away is that they be buried with their face towards Mecca.

According to consultant Dr. Pauline Harmsen of the national organization of cemeteries (LOB), the rise in Muslim locations is a result of the fact that Muslims choose to be buried in a Dutch cemetery. "The first generation often has a last wish to be buried in the fatherland. The second and third generation immigrant are choosing in increasing measure for a cemetery in the Netherlands. For the grief processing it's important to have the deceased loved one nearby." the Netherlands now has 70 cemeteries with their own Islamic section.

Relating to this tendency, the LOB published the "handbook of Islamic burial". This was sent to all 640 administrators of cemeteries who are members of the organization, both to municipal and church cemeteries. They are in charge of about 3,000 graveyards in the Netherlands, or about 80% of the total.

The handbook was also sent to municipal civil servants and municipal policy makers, who due to their functions have to deal with Islamic burial. the expectation is that the number of cemeteries with an Islamic section would increase in the coming years. The 2nd and 3rd generation of Muslim immigrant can demand their own Islamic section. According to Dr. Harmsen, author of the manual, the law on burial says that any inhabitant of the Netherlands has a right to a dignified burial conforming to their own beliefs." Making special Muslim cemeteries is not feasible now. Land is rare and therefore expensive and besides the Netherlands is all divided up according to zoning laws. A second option is realize a piece of land in a regular cemetery, where people with the same religious conviction can be buried next to each other.

The handbook also discusses the eternal rest. Muslims are often not aware that grave rights must be paid or otherwise there's a chance the grave would be cleared out in the course of time.

Source: Telegraaf (Dutch)

See also: Belgium: Muslim burial, Netherlands: Cemetery turned