Amsterdam, Netherlands

Focus on De Nieuwe Ooster Cemetery:  In the United States, fresh flowers have given way to artificial flowers in cemeteries. That is not the case in Holland. Grave memorials seem to be designed to accommodate cut flowers and bulbs, maybe both.  As these roses wilt, for instance, the bulbs will be on their way to blooming. Buddha statues are also fairly common in Dutch cemeteries. Could be more 'new age' philosophy than religious conviction. [2015]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Focus on De Nieuwe Ooster Cemetery:  Life is all about telling stories. Maybe death should should be, too. What story will you have to tell about your life when you hear the final curtain call?  What masks will your survivors choose for your memorial? Here lies an actor to the end. Do you think he had a role in Phantom of the Opera? [2015]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Focus on De Nieuwe Ooster Cemetery:  Amsterdam's New Eastern Cemetery is not so new anymore. In fact, it has been around so long, it's now the largest in the country in terms of number of graves. Perhaps that makes it a fitting place for the Dutch Funeral Museum. In one of the four exhibit halls are seven coffins which contain paraphernalia used in funerary rituals by different religions practiced in the Netherlands. The one shown is filled with Roman Catholic artifacts. Guess what religions the other coffins represent (and remember that until recently, the Dutch had a global empire). One of the other halls in the museum has models and pictures of hearses. Does anyone know of other museums like this? [2015]