Picture this a tranquil oasis amidst the bustling city of Dusseldorf. This is Friedhof Hassels a cemetery with a rich history and a captivating story.
Friedhof Hassels is a relatively young cemetery. Its first burial took place on July 20 1920. Back then it served as the communal cemetery for Benrath an independent community until its incorporation into Dusseldorf in 1929.
What makes Friedhof Hassels unique is its abundant tree population. Linden trees line its main axes while birch trees form picturesque avenues. The older part of the cemetery features a memorial dedicated to German soldiers and victims of World War II bombings. This memorial was established in the 1950s and includes a striking monument crafted from Eifel lava tuff.
The cemetery’s chapel and its adjacent buildings were constructed in 1940. They blend harmoniously with the cemetery’s landscape which is why the chapel is now a protected landmark.
In 1965 Friedhof Hassels faced closure due to a shortage of burial space. To prevent this Dusseldorf purchased a neighboring farm expanding the cemetery’s area. Today Friedhof Hassels covers 7 25 hectares.
The cemetery’s bell tower attached to the chapel was out of service for years. The reason was decay in structural wooden parts including the bell tower’s support within the chapel’s roof structure. The metal spire was also badly rusted creating a significant risk of collapse. In 2009 the bell tower underwent renovation costing nearly 14000 euros. The bell frame was cleaned the bell was refurbished and the spire was restored with new cladding. Now the protected chapel’s bell can once again ring out across the cemetery.
The severe storm Ela which struck on June 9 2014 caused significant damage throughout Dusseldorf. Winds reached speeds of up to 142 km/h causing the loss of approximately 30000 trees in the Dusseldorf area. At Friedhof Hassels two trees were uprooted. Five more trees needed to be felled. However extensive care allowed 58 trees to be saved.
Friedhof Hassels remains a peaceful place a testament to the lives lived and lost within the vibrant history of Dusseldorf. It is more than just a cemetery it’s a living piece of Dusseldorf’s past present and future.