Begraafplaats Kloosterheide

Begraafplaats Kloosterheide is the municipal cemetery of Lier, a town in Belgium's Antwerp province, located at Kesselsesteenweg 97. Covering roughly 3 hectares, it has served as the town's main burial ground for over a century.

How did this cemetery come to be?

The story of Kloosterheide begins in 1917, when the Lier town council decided to establish a new cemetery to replace the existing churchyard on Mechelsesteenweg. The chosen site lay outside the town's boundaries at the time, near the former Kloosterheide railway station, from which the cemetery took its name. Before burials could begin, the town had to complete a land acquisition process involving several different owners, a procedure finalized in 1918. The cemetery was officially inaugurated on September 8, 1918, just before the end of the First World War.

What can visitors find there today?

Modern-day Kloosterheide extends well beyond traditional burial plots. The grounds house a farewell center (afscheidscentrum) offering both indoor and outdoor spaces for saying goodbye to loved ones. Its ceremony room seats 154 people and can accommodate up to 175, making it suitable for funeral services of varying sizes. Alongside conventional graves, the cemetery provides a columbarium for urns, a scattering meadow, and a separate urn field, reflecting changing preferences among local residents regarding how they wish to be laid to rest.

Who is buried at Kloosterheide?

The cemetery serves as the final resting place for members of various religious orders connected to Lier and the surrounding area, a reflection of the region's religious history. Among the notable Lier residents interred here are writers Ernest Van der Hallen and Felix Timmermans — the latter widely regarded as one of the most celebrated Flemish authors of the 20th century and closely tied to his hometown. The cemetery also holds the graves of politician Herman Vanderpoorten and clockmaker Louis Zimmer, creator of the famous astronomical clock in Lier that continues to draw visitors to the town.

When can you visit?

Kloosterheide is open to the public year-round, though its visiting hours shift with the seasons. From March 1 to September 30, the cemetery is accessible from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Between October 1 and November 11, hours are shortened to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and from November 12 through the end of February, the gates are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This schedule accounts for the changing length of daylight throughout the year.

Why is it worth a visit?

For visitors to Lier, a town best known for its historic center and Zimmer's astronomical clock, Kloosterheide offers a quiet counterpoint that combines practical purpose with historical value. The graves of notable figures from local culture and politics make it a point of interest not only for people visiting the resting places of relatives, but also for those curious about the region's history. The stillness and greenery of the grounds, paired with the architecture of the farewell center, make it a worthwhile stop for anyone exploring the lesser-known corners of Lier.