Thirteen benches form a circle. This is the Onument Bench. It stands as a poignant memorial to those who died during the Covid-19 pandemic. This Onument Bench isn’t just a place to sit. It’s a space for reflection. The Onument Bench is in Osseghem Park near the Atomium.
Imagine this park four years ago. Belgium was entering its first lockdown. The Onument Bench was unveiled on March 13, 2024. This marked the fourth anniversary of that lockdown. The Onument Bench commemorates the 32000 people who died in Belgium. 3500 of them were from Brussels.
Bas Smets designed the Onument Bench. He is a Belgian landscape architect. Smets presented the benches with politicians and health officials. Brussels residents also attended. They observed a minute’s silence and placed flowers.
Smets hoped the Onument Bench would be a place to meditate. It is meant to remember victims away from the city’s hustle. The Onument Bench is one of six across Belgium. Together, they form a perfect circle. A natural element breaks each circle. This could be a stream or a tree. Smets said an inner natural force broke the circle. This is similar to how Covid-19 interrupted our lives.
The 13 blocks of the Onument Bench reference March 13, 2020. This was the date of the first lockdown. Other Onument Benches are in Ghent, Kortrijk, Lommel, and Aarschot. The final pieces were presented in Brussels and Leuven.
The Onument Bench aims to bring people together. It serves as a space for events and activities. These may include brunches and commemorations. Osseghem Park was chosen for its tranquility. Psychiatrist Uus Knops contributed to the project. She hoped for a calm space where people could be healed by nature. Knops envisioned a memorial where people share their grief. She wanted them to share instead of grieving in isolation.
Anaïs Maes highlighted the importance of remembrance places. She said they provide a space to reflect on loved ones we have lost. She added that people might come across the site by chance. The Onument Bench is now accessible to the public. The Brussels Government issued a planning permit for the memorial’s construction. It is intended as a place conducive to calm. It is a memorial to victims of the pandemic and loved ones who left too early.
The Onument Bench portrays a circle broken by a natural force. The artwork shows how nature can interfere with our lives. The benches symbolize this. The city and Smets chose Osseghem Park. The park was protected as a landscape in 1975. The Onument Bench is a place for reflection, support, and rest. It also allows for discovery and meeting in the open air.
A path leads from Avenue de la Passerelle to the Onument Bench. The memorial consists of thirteen benches in a circle. They are equally spaced. The surrounding forest embraces the benches. Visitors are encouraged to sit and absorb the environment. The Onument Bench blends discreetly and harmoniously with the forest. No trees were cut down during construction. The nearly flat surface preserves the terrain’s natural relief.
Remember as you sit on the Onument Bench that you are part of something bigger. You are part of a country-wide memorial. You are also part of a community that remembers. The Onument Bench stands as a reminder. It symbolizes resilience and hope amidst loss.