Located just outside the center of Lommel, at the edge of a forest, the cemetery spans 12 hectares of greenery, with thousands of graves carefully integrated into the natural surroundings. Lommel has six cemeteries: Centre, Kattenbos, Werkplaatsen, Kerkhoven, Kolonie, and Stevensvennen. Each site features a columbarium, an urn field, a scattering meadow, and a farewell room. Text bands and poetry pillars invite visitors to reflection and contemplation.
Warmest Cemetery in Flanders
The award for the Warmest Cemetery in Flanders, presented by the organization Reveil, recognizes Lommel's thoughtful cemetery policy. This public award highlights how culture, funerary heritage, and greening efforts are combined to promote a warmer mourning culture. As part of this recognition, a wood carving by artist David Daems, donated by Reveil, was prominently placed in the cemetery.
Onument
Lommel also pays special attention to collective mourning, as evidenced by the Onument, which has a special place in the cemetery. This monument, designed by landscape architect Bas Smets, provides a physical and symbolic space for processing loss. The Onument, consisting of a circle of 13 curved elements, is naturally interrupted by the position of existing pine trees, symbolizing the disruption caused by the coronavirus crisis. Dr. Uus Knops, the initiator, describes the Onument as a place where both collective and individual experiences of loss can find a tangible space. The name "Onument," with its open initial letter, symbolizes an invitation to comfort and connection.
