Brussels cemeteries let you pick your own free flowers

So that you can pay respect to the dearly departed and not worry about the cost

Brussels has introduced a service for its residents that lets them pick flowers for free in the municipal cemeteries and create their own bouquets to lay on the tombstones. This is available in the cemeteries of Laeken and Brussels.

The aim of the service is two-fold. On one hand, it aims to encourage visitors to the cemeteries to use natural flowers when paying their respects, rather than resorting to paper or plastic flowers. The latter will actually soon be banned by the authorities.

On the other hand, this is seen as a drive to promote biodiversity through the use of varied vegetation, conducive to pollinating insects such as bees.

Citizens’ responsibility is encouraged

Cemeteries in Europe actually provide very adequate grounds for testing new sustainable solutions.

The flowers that visitors can pick for free will be grown in special plots. For instance, the one at Laeken is about a hundred square metres large.

The plot is divided into concrete frames, one meter by two, driven into the ground. In a few years, these frames will accommodate coffins. Thus, it also represents a good use of land, leaving no spaces unused in the cemetery.

At the Cemetery of Brussels, the plot for cut flowers is plot number 7. This is also the plot reserved for ecological urns which degrade and end up serving as fertilizer – a perfect example of the circular nature of life.

Still, like any free service, the authorities encourage residents to not abuse it and to stay modest when honouring their dead relatives and friends.

People can use scissors available at the site to cut their own flowers. However, the rule is that they should leave the flowers, roots and bulbs intact so more flowers can be grown.