Copper theft in burial chapels at the old cemetery in Hasselt: “Don’t touch the final resting place”

The old cemetery on the Kempische Steenweg is today an open museum for lovers of Hasselt history, because of the historic graves and crypts, and nature with its enormous beeches and cypresses. In 2004 it was protected as a monument by the Flemish Government.

“We recently finalized a management plan for this monumental site and we will soon start the conservation of the first hundred graves and crypts,” says Mayor Vandeput. “This theft is therefore very inconvenient, but will not stop us from preserving this beautiful piece of Hasselt’s heritage and making it accessible for generations to come.”

Camera’s

The thieves probably entered over the wall at the rear of the cemetery during Valentine’s weekend. After all, no traces of forced entry have been found on the entrance gates or walls. The collected loot was dismantled and then taken away.

“There are a lot of cameras in the area around the Eleventh Line Campus. Hopefully we can see something on them. The police are conducting the investigation.” Pending the investigation into the perpetrators, the city will temporarily close the burial chapels and the families involved have been contacted. “We are examining whether additional safety measures are necessary around the cemetery, but it cannot be our intention to turn this accessible heritage site into a fortified castle.”