Cemeteries in Amsterdam reflect the city’s long, layered history.
They vary from large municipal grounds to religious burial sites, from modern cremation centres to hidden historical graveyards.
Whether you are looking for a relative’s resting place, researching local heritage, or simply exploring Amsterdam beyond the typical tourist spots.
This guide outlines every major cemetery, along with several lesser-known locations that most existing articles overlook.
This version is designed to provide broader coverage than the current pages on the topic.
It includes context, history, faith backgrounds, notable features, service types, and visitor guidance to help you make informed choices.
Table of Contents
What are the main cemeteries in Amsterdam?
Zorgvlied Cemetery
Zorgvlied is one of the most prominent cemeteries in the Netherlands. It opened in the nineteenth century and is set along the Amstel River.
The layout follows a garden style design, and the cemetery contains graves of authors, musicians, actors, politicians and other well-known Dutch personalities.
With traditional plots, urn gardens and unique memorial structures, it serves as both a burial ground and a cultural landmark.
De Nieuwe Ooster Cemetery
This cemetery is located in Watergraafsmeer and is one of the city’s largest.
It includes a crematorium and extensive grounds with trees, water features and peaceful walking paths.
De Nieuwe Ooster accepts various types of interments, including traditional graves, children’s graves and urn placements.
It is known for thoughtful landscaping and quiet surroundings that appeal to both visitors and mourners.
De Nieuwe Noorder Cemetery
Situated in Amsterdam Noord, this is a municipal cemetery that welcomes people from all backgrounds.
It features both burial plots and cremation-related options. Compared with the historic cemeteries.
It has a more practical layout and serves residents across different neighbourhoods.
Many visitors appreciate its straightforward design and accessible facilities.
Sint Barbara Cemetery
Sint Barbara is a Catholic cemetery in Amsterdam West. It features a chapel, family plots and a variety of religious memorials.
The grounds are well kept and often chosen by families seeking a cemetery with a clear Catholic identity.
It is one of the older cemeteries in the western district and holds significant community value.
Westgaarde Cemetery and Crematorium
Westgaarde is located in Nieuw West and functions as both a cemetery and a modern cremation centre.
It offers flexible options for families, including burial plots, urn walls and memorial gardens.
The site is spacious and designed to accommodate contemporary funeral preferences.
Many people choose Westgaarde because it allows both secular and personalised ceremonies.
Huis te Vraag Cemetery
Huis te Vraag is one of Amsterdam’s most unusual cemeteries.
This small site once served as a private burial ground but ceased active interments in the twentieth century.
Over time, vegetation overtook many of the gravestones, creating a forestlike atmosphere that feels removed from the city.
It contains thousands of graves, including some unidentified individuals from the mid-twentieth century.
Today, it is open to visitors during select hours and is valued for its historical and contemplative character.
Jewish Heritage Cemeteries
While not always listed in guides focused on Amsterdam city limits, Jewish burial grounds form an essential part of the region’s history.
Beth Haim in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel is the oldest Jewish cemetery in the Netherlands.
Established in the seventeenth century, it features gravestones with inscriptions in Portuguese, Dutch and Hebrew, reflecting the Sephardic community that settled in the area.
For those researching Jewish family history, this cemetery provides a significant resource.
What makes this guide more complete than typical lists?
Most lists cover only a few municipal and religious cemeteries.
This guide includes both those and additional heritage sites that others tend to ignore, such as Huis te Vraag and historical Jewish cemeteries located near Amsterdam.
It also provides clearer context on cemetery types, religious affiliations, service availability and practical visiting considerations.
This wider scope helps answer the needs of visitors, genealogists and cultural researchers.
Visiting considerations
- Check opening hours since some cemeteries maintain limited schedules.
- Respect cultural and religious customs where applicable.
- Plan your route, because several cemeteries lie outside central Amsterdam.
- If you are researching family history, municipal cemeteries usually have more accessible records.
- Heritage sites like Beth Haim and Zorgvlied offer deeper cultural insight, so allow extra time to explore if you appreciate historical details.
FAQ
Q. What is the most famous cemetery in Amsterdam?
Zorgvlied is widely considered the most notable due to its design, cultural significance and the many public figures buried there.
Q. Is there a cemetery in Amsterdam that feels more like a historic site?
Yes. Huis te Vraag offers an atmospheric experience with overgrown paths, old gravestones and a secluded setting that differs from standard cemeteries.
Q. Where can I find a cemetery that includes a crematorium?
De Nieuwe Ooster and Westgaarde both include cremation facilities along with traditional burial grounds.
Q. Are there Catholic cemeteries in Amsterdam?
Sint Barbara and the cemetery at Sloten Pancratius Church serve the Catholic community.
Q. Is there a Jewish cemetery close to Amsterdam?
Beth Haim in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel is historically the most important Jewish cemetery in the region.
Q. Which cemetery should I visit for a quiet walk?
De Nieuwe Ooster and Zorgvlied offer peaceful paths, landscaped grounds and a calm environment suitable for reflection.
Q. Can tourists visit these cemeteries?
Yes. Most cemeteries allow visitors during official opening hours, although some sites like Huis te Vraag have more limited access.
Q. Which cemetery is best for genealogical research?
Municipal cemeteries such as De Nieuwe Noorder and De Nieuwe Ooster usually maintain searchable or request-based burial records that benefit genealogists.
Related Information: Where can you find hospitals in Amsterdam?
If you are looking for essential services connected to care, support or practical arrangements during sensitive times.
It may be helpful to know where the main hospitals in Amsterdam are located.
Our full guide explains the major medical centres across the city, their specialisations and how to reach them.