For some time now, the ‘the Facultatieve’ and the KRO have been working together. The Royal Dutch Cremation Society supports, for example, the website www.voortleven.kro.nl that provides people with a memorial site. This website encourages the contemplation of death, and suggests ways of keeping the memories of loved ones alive.
It gives pause for thought over deceased loved ones, and includes odes to people who meant much to those around them. The voortleven.kro.nl website is also breathing new life into All Souls’ Day, which is commemorated on 2 November, the day after All Saints’ Day. All Souls’ Day was originally the day that Catholics pray for the souls of the dead in purgatory. But nowadays it is increasingly seen as the day in the year to honour deceased loved ones. Next of kin often visit the graves of their loved ones on this day. They lay flowers on the grave, clean it, sprinkle it with holy water and light a candle. The All Souls’ Day website allows you to build your own online altar for a deceased loved one or for someone close still living.
The voortleven.kro.nl site also includes episodes of the television programme Geschenk uit de hemel (Gift from heaven). Partly inspired by this programme, KRO journalist Kalien Blonden wrote her book De hemel in mijn hoofd (Heaven in my head). This book, jointly enabled by ‘the Facultatieve’, gives voice to people who lost a loved one many years ago. and casts a light on mourning and sorrow seen through the eyes of different ideologies.
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