Leopoldsburg (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Work began at Heppen and Leopoldsburg cemeteries to add wheelchair-friendly paths with 50-year concrete slabs. Mayor Marleen Kauffman (CD&V) says works, including grave restorations, will be finished by November 1, 2025.
As VRT News reported, work has started at the cemeteries of Heppen and Leopoldsburg, in the province of Limburg, Belgium, to make the grounds more accessible. The project focuses on building new paths for wheelchair users. Existing paths will not be removed. Instead, they will be upgraded with prefabricated concrete slabs. The slabs are designed to last at least 50 years.
“This way, people with reduced mobility can access the graves more easily and effectively,”
Says Mayor Marleen Kauffman (CD&V).
How are Heppen and Leopoldsburg cemeteries improving accessibility by Nov 1?
The municipality has started marking graves with expired concessions. Clear signs have been placed, and a dedicated official will contact all affected families.
“This gives everyone the chance to extend their concession if they want,”
The mayor said.
The municipality also maintains graves of historical importance. These graves are registered, and the authorities restore at least one each year.
“We want to preserve these sites and honour our local history,”
The mayor added. All renovation and accessibility works, including upgrading paths and restoring historic graves, are scheduled to be completed by November 1, 2025.
In 2023, the city of Leuven carried out a major project to make its historic centre more accessible. Wheelchair-friendly routes were added so that people with disabilities could move safely through the streets and visit cultural sites.
A year earlier, in 2022, Mechelen invested in the maintenance of its communal cemetery, where several World War II graves are located. The work included new paths and careful restoration to protect the historical value of the site.
