Here lies Gan Hasjalom a garden of peace. It is more than just a cemetery. Gan Hasjalom represents a profound connection to Amsterdam’s Liberal Jewish community. Two locations carry this name. We stand at the one in Amstelveen.
This Gan Hasjalom opened in 2002. It provides a serene final resting place. The original Gan Hasjalom was founded in 1937 near Hoofddorp. Schiphol Airport’s expansion caused noise pollution there. This led to the creation of this new location.
Jaap Walvisch a Haarlem architect designed this Gan Hasjalom. The grounds offer a tranquil and natural environment. The design incorporates elements of the Kabbalah. This reflects creation’s core elements. These are head, stomach and chest. They symbolize fire, water, air, summer, winter, spring and autumn. These elements connect to the Star of David. King Solomon used this star. He built the First Temple in Jerusalem.
The cemetery’s layout features grave fields. These fields are bordered by trees and shrubbery. This continues the greenery of the nearby Middelpolder recreation area. The location includes an administration building. It also has a rising sedum roof. This design blends harmoniously with nature. The grounds lead to a Memorial Square.
Appie Drielsma a Maastricht artist created a monument here. It features stainless steel columns. The columns bear engraved names. These names include those from the original Hoofddorp monument. A smaller monument lists others who did not receive a grave.
Many notable figures rest here. Harry van den Bergh a politician is buried here. Andreas Burnier an author and criminologist rests here too. Ronnie Goldstein-van Cleef a resistance fighter is also interred. The psychiatrist and writer Hans Keilson rests here as well. Rosalie Holländer-Stern Anne Frank’s grandmother also lies here.
The Stichting Gan Hasjalom manages both locations. The foundation facilitates burials for all Jews. It welcomes those who choose Gan Hasjalom as their final resting place. The Amstelveen location offers facilities for tahara. This is a ritual purification. It also features a hall and reception area. Funeral services for both sites occur in Amstelveen.
Gan Hasjalom is open for visits Sunday through Friday. Access requires a pass or code. Others can visit by appointment. Contact the manager Tsippora Turak to schedule a visit. The cemetery remains closed on Shabbat and Jewish holidays.
Choosing Gan Hasjalom means placing a headstone within a year. The community provides guidelines for these stones. These guidelines cover material dimensions and text. The cemetery maintains the grounds. Families can tend individual graves. They can also hire the Stichting Gan Hasjalom for maintenance. This ensures the garden of peace remains a place of respect and beauty.