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Nijmegen - Begraafplaats Heilig Land Stichting

City: Nijmegen (Nimwegen) is a city in the Dutch province of Gelderland, near the border with Germany. The history of the city goes back a long way, more than 2,000 years. For example, the city received its market rights in the year 100. Other important dates are 1230 and 1402. In 1230 Nijmegen became a Free Imperial City. A free imperial city was not placed under a Lord but was in principle only under the authority of the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. So, in fact, it was a kind of micro-State although in practice still often ruled by a Lord or a King. In 1402 Nijmegen became a Hanseatic City. A hanza was a joint venture between traders and cities with the intention to expand their trade. Today the city of Nijmegen numbers 163,112 inhabitants (2010). "The Oldest city - a centre for culture, sport, fun, events, shopping, nightlife, de Waal and a varied and natural environment: that is Nimwegen!"-www.nijmegen.nl.

Building: Cemetery Heilig Land Stichting Inside the ‘Heilig Land Stichting’ (Holy Land Foundation), near Nijmegen, is a particular cemetery (since 1913) based on ancient Palestine traditions. The graves are not placed in rows, but are placed inside little private gardens. Those gardens with many flowers, often surrounded by a fence or little wall, emanate serenity and calm. With the social status of ‘protected monument’, since 2004, the cemetery belongs to the cultural heritage. A lot of distinguished people of the Nederlands are buried here, and new graves are regularly added. The Dutch artist Piet Gerrits (1878-1957) had a big influence on the atmosphere of the park, by means of various pictures and reliefs. He is buried here himself. He designed the artificial mountain Golgotha, made of concrete. The top of the mountain is marked with a cross, reminding the observer of the death of Christ. The walls are engraved with Bible texts.

Object: Band of images 1 - photo 1: The tree of life Band of images 1-2 : This part of the Bible text Jeremiah 11 verse 19, 20a, was brought to our attention: MAAR NOG IS ER JEHOVAH GOD DER HEERSCHAREN DIE RECHT SPREEKT (IN) RECHTVAARDIGHEID BUT THOU, JEHOVAH OF HOSTS, WHO JUDGES RIGHTEOUSLY The text is clearly readable because this concrete work was restored only a few years ago.   Band of images 3 - 5: Near this place is another wall, in the shape of a corner, engraved by the same hand, also with Bible texts. Due to old age these texts are not as clear, but nevertheless they are still readable. On one side of the wall Jeremiah 9 verse 23, 24 is engraved: ZOO SPREEKT JEHOVAH DAT DE WIJZE ZICH NIET VERHEERLIJKE OM ZIJNE WIJSHEID, DE STERKE ZICH NIET VERHEERLIJKE OM ZIJNE STERKTE, DAT DE RIJKE ZICH NIET VERHEERLIJKE OM ZIJN RIJKDOM. MAAR DIE ZICH VERHEERLIJKT, ZICH VERHEERLIJKEN HIER OM, DAT HIJ DE WARE KENNIS BEZIT, DAT HIJ MIJ KENT, DAT HIJ WEET DAT IK JEHOVAH BEN, DIE BARMHARTIGHEID, RECHT EN GERECHTIGHEID UITOEFEN OVER DE AARDE. WANT DAARIN SCHEP IK BEHAGEN ZEGT JEHOVAH. PROFEET JEREMIA THUS SAITH JEHOVAH: LET NOT THE WISE GLORY IN HIS WISDOM, NEITHER LET THE MIGHTY GLORY IN HIS MIGHT; LET NOT THE RICH GLORY IN HIS RICHES: BUT LET HIM GLORIETH GLORY IN THIS, THAT HE UNDERSTANDETH AND KNOWETH ME, THAT I AM JEHOVAH, WHO EXERCISES LOVING-KINDNESS, JUDGMENT, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE EARTH; FOR IN THESE THINGS I DELIGHT, SAITH JEHOVAH. THE PROPHET JEREMIAH We have not been able to find out which Bible translation the artist has quoted from, but it is notable that he used God's name ‘Jehovah’ three times.

 

Band of images

Click on the photo

 

Note: We are showing on our page 'museums' the Museum Park Orientalis, which is next to the cemetery, and also belongs to the Heilig Land Stichting (Holy Land Foundation).

 

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