De Nieuwe Ooster Cemetery

When planning a Landscape Architecture study tour in Holland, you would not normally expect a visit to a cemetery to be on the agenda. Though surprisingly, this was possibly one of the highlights of the week. 

As soon as we arrived at the cemetery, instantly people's moods changed, they became quiet and contemplative, slowly strolling through the setting and reflecting on the surroundings. Karres en Brands, the Landscape Architects behind the design, have clearly succeeded in incorporating a contemporary design, whilst still maintaining a sympathetic link to the original site.

Clipped hedging provide a form of privacy for visitors and defines the zones created by the designers. Grasses and perennials are woven through the setting, hanging over the pathways, allowing people to make contact, whether it be intentional or not. I couldn't help but feel that there was a ghostly quality to the planting, perhaps this was intentional to evoke this emotion. The trees commanded height and were spiritually uplifting.

Water is known to be a calming element and people are naturally drawn to it. The reflective surface of water mirrors the surrounding landscape, while at the same time creating a mood of contemplation. There were mixed feelings in response to the lily pad sculptures, some felt that they were a distraction and rather brash, while others believed that they portrayed the avant-garde confidence of the Dutch designers.

Alongside the gravestones were contemporary steel structures that housed individual shrines. Personally I felt quite uncomfortable in this space and it felt as though I was invading someone's sacred place.

In my opinion the De Nieuwe Ooster Cemetery really works. It has a formal quality combined with a calm character. It is a serene and soothing setting that offers solace to those that walk amongst its grounds.