Heerenveen introduces digital grave search for easier access to loved ones' resting places
Residents of Heerenveen can now locate graves of loved ones online, marking a step toward modernizing municipal services. This initiative simplifies access to cemetery data, with plans to expand to all local cemeteries by 2027.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Heerenveen |
| First Digitized Cemetery | Location: Binnenweg 3B |
| Digital Platform | grafzoeken.nl |
| Total Municipal Cemeteries | 8 (1 digitized, 7 pending) |
| Next Steps | Surveying operation for remaining cemeteries; budget proposal for 2027 |
| Initiator | Councillor Lia de Heij (ChristenUnie) |
| Additional Discussions | Church organizations for digitizing church cemeteries |
The municipality of Heerenveen is responsible for managing public services, including the maintenance and accessibility of municipal cemeteries. By digitizing cemetery data, the municipality aims to improve service delivery and meet the evolving needs of residents, particularly in providing respectful and efficient access to information.
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Heerenveen Municipality Takes Step Towards Digital Accessibility of Cemeteries
The municipality of Heerenveen is continuing its efforts to provide modern and accessible services. From now on, the data for our municipal cemeteries is digitally available via grafzoeken.nl. This allows bereaved relatives to easily search online for where a loved one is buried.
Deputy Rolie Tromp:
“With this digital step, we are further enhancing our service provision. We believe it is important that residents can easily and respectfully access information about the final resting place of their loved ones.”
First Cemetery Digitally Accessible
The municipality of Heerenveen is continuing its efforts to provide modern and accessible services. From now on, the data for one of our municipal cemeteries – located at Binnenweg 3B – is digitally available via grafzoeken.nl and visible on the map along with the grave number. This allows bereaved relatives to easily search online for where a loved one is buried. In 2023, the municipal council unanimously requested, on the initiative of councillor Lia de Heij (ChristenUnie), that information about graves be made digitally accessible.
Next Steps for Other Cemeteries
To make the remaining seven municipal cemeteries fully digitally accessible with an online map, an extensive surveying operation is first required. As this is a costly investment, a proposal will be submitted during the preparation of the 2027 budget. Until then, graves can still be found via grafzoeken.nl using the grave number.
Discussions with Church Organizations
The municipality will also engage in discussions with church organizations about the possibilities of digitally accessing church cemeteries in the future. This way, we are exploring how we can ultimately make all graves within the municipality of Heerenveen accessible to residents, bereaved relatives, and researchers.