Beringen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Paal cemetery in Beringen, Belgium, will again be accessible to visitors during weekends while excavation and related works continue at the site.
This temporary opening is due to the closure of the cemetery starting on 10th August 2026 as a result of construction works. It is possible to access the cemetery for the period between Friday evening to Sunday evening; however, officials have pointed out that the site continues to be a construction zone, and visits should be made as rare as possible.
Which entrances can visitors use?
The cemetery can be accessed from the main gate located at Sint-Jansstraat or the back gate located at Gelebergstraat. There is a construction barrier that divides the two parts of the cemetery. Visitors will not be able to travel from one part of the cemetery to another; thus, they should use an entrance that corresponds to the location of the grave they wish to visit. The city council has asked visitors to comply with all safety guidelines.
Why are graves being excavated?
Paal cemetery is one of the biggest cemeteries in Beringen, which houses over 3,500 deceased persons. According to the municipality, this cemetery lacks space and many graves have been established based on expired or non-renewable concessions. Under its phased cemetery management plan, the municipal administration carried out an assessment of the burials and informed family members of burials whose concessions were at risk of being withdrawn.
Burials scheduled for possible removal were marked in December 2024, and relatives had about 15 months to either renew a concession or re-bury. In total, 978 burials were marked for excavation. About 10% of the families involved either renewed their concessions or rebury. Altogether, 25% of all burials in Paal cemetery will be removed.
How long will the excavation work continue?
The excavation process will be extended until 25th September 2026. This project is done phase-by-phase on a plot basis to minimize disruptions to the families, the local community and visitors. Prior to the excavation phase, preparatory activities involved inspections by Beringen’s Civil Affairs department and the municipal workshops. The funeral ceremonies will be held while the construction project is ongoing. Operations may be temporarily halted by the contractor whenever necessary to allow the ceremony to proceed dignified and peacefully.
What has the city said about the project?
Beringen alderwoman Jessie De Weyer, whose responsibilities include Public Works, Public Space and Greenery, said municipal services and the contractor had worked together to restore limited weekend access.
“The cemetery in Paal will be reopened during the weekends while the works are ongoing,”
the city said in its announcement, while also asking visitors to limit their visits and remain cautious around the work zones.
As mentioned earlier, de Weyer stated that there are 978 graves that will be excavated, and that about 10 percent of the affected families have chosen to extend their concessions or to rebury their loved ones. The municipality has made it known that this is part of a respectable and sustainable way of managing cemeteries. The policy in Beringen is designed in such a way as to maintain cemeteries as beautiful and tranquil sites where people can remember their deceased loved ones.
What will happen to removed memorials?
Relatives who wish to retain a gravestone or another memorial object were asked to contact the city’s cemetery service within the relevant deadline.
Some granite gravestones are expected to be reused in memorial benches. The municipality also plans to install a new commemorative monument at each cemetery, allowing memories associated with former graves to remain represented after the plots are cleared.
The city has said the work is being conducted with respect for the deceased and their families.
Is this the first such cemetery project in Beringen?
The paal dig is just one phase within a larger program for cemetery management in Beringen. The municipality oversees eight cemeteries and currently deals with problems such as expired concessions, maintenance, accessibility, landscaping and lack of space available for burials. The city authorities have expressed their intention to examine expired grave concessions every two years starting with the completion of Paal project. This will help to avoid the situation when many concessions expire without resolution.
