Zuylen cemetery in Breda has engaged a mediator to resolve a conflict with angry relatives. The group is angry with director Roel Stapper because he wants to turn the cemetery into a park where visitors can also relax. With walking routes, a new work of art as an outdoor auditorium and sometimes even live music. The opponents of this want to continue to mourn in peace.
Tensions between a group of relatives and the management of the Zuylen cemetery ran high at the end of July. During the presentation of a petition against the change plans, director Roel Stapper was criticized. Some went on a rampage. To calm things down, it was agreed to continue talking in a smaller group.
Emotions
It was a proposal from Iwan Dienjes of the Breda LPF party, who is now spokesperson for the group of relatives. “Emotions were running very high,” he says. “At one point I even thought Director Stapper would have to crawl back to his office. He said the wrong things and couldn’t calm things down.”
“We didn’t get to the core of the problem and it was better to continue talking another time with people who are less emotional. Director Stapper thought that was a good idea and we immediately made an appointment.”
However, this was canceled because the Supervisory Board of Zuylen wanted both parties to first talk separately with a mediator. That became Clemens de Bont. An appointment has now been made for next Friday.
‘Very wrong’
“I’m just going to throw the story on the table,” says Iwan Dienjes on behalf of the relatives. “Everyone is allowed to make plans, including Zuylen, but it is ethically very wrong what they are doing. I think it is even worse that the municipality of Breda supports this with a permit.”
“A cemetery has a certain function and is not intended for recreation and entertainment,” he continues. “No walking routes should run through it or other wild plans should be unleashed. The new work of art, the outdoor auditorium, is right next to other graves. That is not possible. The cemetery is a place of peace, respect and mourning. It must remain that way .”
Heavy float
For mediator De Bont it will be a tough one to bring both parties closer together and to end the current soap. For the time being, they are diametrically opposed to each other because director Stapper has already said that he will continue with the plans. Zuylen cemetery must become Park Zuylen in order to survive financially.
“I don’t actually expect that the conversation will bring a solution,” Dienjes sighs. “Perhaps there is still something legally possible, but that must be tested. And then of course the next of kin will decide on that.”
READ ALSO: Action against plans for a cemetery: “It’s not Efteling here”