Grafkelder van Nassau-LaLecq, Noble burial vault in Ouderkerk aan den IJssel, Netherlands
The Grafkelder van Nassau-LaLecq is a burial vault within the Dorpskerk church in Ouderkerk aan den IJssel, consisting of two chambers beneath arched brick ceilings. The compartments hold wooden supports for coffins lined inside with lead, a material chosen for preservation purposes.
The vault was established in 1661 by Lodewijk van Nassau as a burial place for the family line. Over more than 150 years, it received 34 members until the final interment in 1824 brought both the male and female branches to an end.
The burial site reflects Dutch aristocratic customs through its architectural design and how the family chose to rest together in this sacred space. The naming plaques on each coffin reveal how the Nassau-LaLecq family maintained their identity and lineage through burial practices.
Access to the vault is restricted and limited to special occasions arranged through the Dorpskerk church. Those wishing to visit should contact the church directly to inquire about possible viewing opportunities.
The final member buried here was Jan Floris Hendrik Carel, whose death in 1824 extinguished an entire branch of the family tree. His interment marked the conclusion of a lineage that had endured through centuries of Dutch history.
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