A hushed reverence hangs in the air. We stand before Vredenhof a peaceful cemetery in Amsterdam West. Established in 1897 Vredenhof replaced the old Nieuwe Westerbegraafplaats. That cemetery was too far from the city center. It was swallowed by the expanding Western Harbor area.
Vredenhof’s creation involved annexing land from the municipality of Sloten. The land was west of the Kostverlorenvaart canal. The cemetery sits slightly south of the Haarlemmerweg. This explains its long narrow entrance area. The sand used to raise the ground came from a harbor dug for the Hoogovens steelworks in IJmuiden. A fascinating detail isn’t it?
Leonard A Springer designed Vredenhof. He also designed the Oosterbegraafplaats now the Nieuwe Ooster cemetery. His design cleverly incorporated the existing polder layout. Abraham Salm a renowned villa architect designed the entrance building and staff housing. The building resembled a picturesque villa. Unfortunately many original details are lost due to repainting and roof tile replacements. Thankfully in 2017 it became a municipal monument. In 2019 it was transformed into a restaurant and cafe called Westervilla.
Initially Vredenhof served Amsterdam’s western residents. It was close to the city limits. The arrival of tram line 18 in 1922 improved accessibility from the city center. Many Jordaan residents and sailors without fixed addresses found their final resting place here. A testament to the cemetery’s inclusive nature.
In 1934 the Central Market Halls opened nearby. Vredenhof gave up some land for this project receiving a new strip of land on its eastern edge in return. The cemetery remains in use today. It sits at an elevation of -1.80 meters below sea level. This is a full meter lower than surrounding buildings.
Notable Dutch figures are buried here. Johnny Jordaan Leo Fuld Johnny Meijer Cor van Hout Gijs van Dam Jr George van Kleef Martin Kok and Thomas van der Bijl rest within these grounds. Their presence adds a layer of historical intrigue to this peaceful haven. Vredenhof’s story is a blend of urban expansion architectural design and the lives it has sheltered. A truly captivating Amsterdam landmark.