Bornkamp cemetery closes: Graves should move to thefteich!

Bornkamp cemetery closes: Graves should move to thefteich!

The Bornkamp cemetery in Hamburg-Bahrenfeld is about to close. This decision, which is heavily burdened by the hearts of many citizens: on the inside, comes due to financial needs, which are due to declining funeral figures and high maintenance costs, such as the Mopo reported. A total of almost 1,000 graves have to be relocated because the church can no longer operate the cemetery.

The Bornkamp cemetery, which was founded in 1880 and is located on Ruhrstrasse, is converted into a green oasis for nature conservation and environmental education, while building the site is not planned. This should use the space for future generations as a place of relaxation and learning. "The decision was not easy," explains the Evangelical Lutheran parish association Altona. The transition of the graves should be free and dignified if possible.

important deadlines and options

Family members of the deceased are asked to decide by the end of the year how the graves should be done. Forced conversion should be avoided, even if this would be legally possible. In cases in which no relatives can no longer be found, however, it will not be possible to preserve these graves.

This step is involved in a worrying trend: the decline in church burials in Germany is becoming increasingly clear, with alternative forms of burial gain in popularity. Like a study by Statista , more and more people are pulling urn burials and natural burials.

A look at the funeral forms

The number of classic funerals, which traditionally take place on around 32,000 cemeteries in Germany, is steadily falling. Factors such as high burial costs - a classic funeral can cost up to 13,000 euros on average - contribute to the change in funeral habits. With the increasing idea of ​​a nursing -free funeral, for example in rest for resting or peace forests, less complex alternatives gain encouragement.

The closure of the Bornkamp cemetery and the associated changes not only have legal but also emotional dimensions for many people. The memory and farewell to beloved relatives are particularly noticeable due to such changes, because graves are often the place where grief and memory are interwoven.

The Hamburg citizens: Inside, the challenge is now faced with the farewell to the circumstances, while the city is preparing for the future conversion of the cemetery into a nature protection area. The Bornkamp cemetery is not only a chapter in the history of the city, but also a symbol of the change in the burial culture in Germany.