{"id":142636,"date":"2021-08-24T21:14:42","date_gmt":"2021-08-24T19:14:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oudaalten.nl\/niet-gecategoriseerd\/old-general-cemetery-aalten\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T19:13:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T17:13:38","slug":"old-general-cemetery-aalten","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oldaalten.nl\/en\/aalten\/old-general-cemetery-aalten\/","title":{"rendered":"Old General Cemetery Aalten"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Varsseveldsestraatweg 21, Aalten<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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\"Old\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Photo: R. Neerhof, 2021<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In 1827, King Willem I decreed by law that, as of 1829, cemeteries had to be established outside built-up areas. In Aalten, a site was designated for this purpose on Varsseveldsestraatweg, then known as Melkersweg. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cemetery was later extended to the west. The oldest section is characterised by relatively empty lawns with scattered old funerary monuments and a small lychgate (baarhuisje). The western part has a more structured, orthogonal layout. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Begin 20e eeuw raakte de Oude Begraafplaats steeds meer omsloten door de oprukkende bebouwing van het dorp. Dit leidde tot de behoefte aan een nieuwe begraafplaats. In 1923 werd begraafplaats Berkenhove<\/a> aan de Romienendiek in gebruik genomen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the Old Cemetery has since taken on the function of a ‘tranquillity park’, it is still sporadically used for interring the deceased in existing family graves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A map is available providing an overview of all graves and those interred from circa 1921; click the thumbnail below for a large, legible version (PDF):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Old General Cemetery Aalten, 1921<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Commemorative Column<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In het kader van 70 jaar bevrijding werd in 2015 op de Oude Begraafplaats een gedenkzuil<\/a> geplaatst ter herdenking aan alle Aaltense soldaten die in mei 1940 op en rond de Grebbeberg hebben gevochten. Zeven Aaltense militairen verloren daarbij het leven. Hun namen en foto\u2019s zijn op de gedenkzuil vereeuwigd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roman Catholic Cemetery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When the cemetery on Varsseveldsestraatweg was established, the Catholic community in Aalten insisted that a separate section be designated and consecrated for them. The municipality purchased a piece of land for this purpose across the street, on the corner with Molenstraat<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deze kleine katholieke begraafplaats raakte echter al na dertig jaar vol. In 1868 werd een nieuwe R.K. begraafplaats aan de Piet Heinstraat<\/a> in gebruik genomen. Het voormalige katholieke begraafplaatsje aan de Varsseveldsestraatweg kreeg later de functie van plantsoen. De graven van ten minste 50 Aaltense katholieken zijn echter nooit geruimd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, the site was redesigned at the initiative of local residents to better reflect its historical significance. An information panel has been placed at the location highlighting the history of the cemetery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Owners<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Overview is incomplete.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Year<\/th>Plot<\/th>Owner<\/th>Description<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
1832<\/td>I-1409
I-1436<\/td>		The Municipality of Aalten<\/td>4.430 m\u00b2 (Protestant) churchyard
720 m\u00b2 (R.C.) churchyard<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Features<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Cadastral no.<\/td>K-466<\/td><\/tr>
Function<\/td>Cemetery<\/td><\/tr>
Listed<\/td>Gemeentelijk <\/a>
monument<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Sources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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