Hasselt to build butterfly-shaped children's cemetery to offer solace

Hasselt, Belgium, is set to establish a new children's cemetery designed in the shape of a butterfly. This initiative arises from the limitations of the existing children's cemetery at Kruisveld, necessitating the creation of a new, more expansive location.

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We want to create a green environment where parents can mourn in peace.

"We want to create a green environment where parents can mourn in peace," stated Laurence Libert, alderman for Cemeteries. The undeveloped rear section of the Kruisveld cemetery will be transformed to accommodate future needs. Libert emphasized the goal of creating a "serene place for grief and comfort," focusing on an arrangement that offers privacy to all parents.

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We want to create a serene place for grief and comfort and therefore we want to focus on the layout, so that all parents have privacy.

Inspiration for the design came directly from parents who have lost children. Libert engaged in conversations with them, noting that while some found solace in connecting with other grieving parents, others preferred more privacy. The butterfly shape is intended to allow mourners to find secluded spots for quiet reflection, offering a distinct experience from the "cold rows" of a typical cemetery.

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Some parents indicated that they found comfort with other parents, but others did not, which is why we want to grant them more privacy.

The city is also considering how to best manage the presence of other children at the cemetery. Some parents wish to bring siblings who can play, while others find this disruptive. The city aims to find a consensus on this matter before finalizing the plan, which will be presented for approval on Tuesday. Following approval, a contractor will be sought.

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This is quite different from cold rows in another cemetery.