ABSTRACT
This chapter presents how the Netherlands has shown a distinct momentum of its own in the development of crematoria and their building styles, indicates some resemblance in chronology with the attitude towards creating a specific sense of place with other European countries, like the UK and Germany. Crematoria may be considered cultural places of death and remembrance where identities are produced and communicated through architecture, interior design and landscaping. The chapter discusses whether the architectural history of Dutch crematoria reflects these ideas. More recently, Pursell has described the delicate relations between cremation, modernity and architecture in the case of Hagen crematorium, Germany. Early plans for a crematorium in Hilversum were based on a full repertory of shapes and styles, such as a Roman theatre, early Christian basilica, Greek temple and Egyptian pyramid. The chapter focuses on four phase model of development like 'pre-modern', 'shake hands modernist', 'sub-modernist' and 'post-modern' with relates to crematorium building and architecture in the Netherlands.
