Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery, Cemetery in Watergraafsmeer, Amsterdam, Netherlands
De Nieuwe Ooster is a large burial ground on Kruislaan in the Watergraafsmeer district of Amsterdam. Its winding paths lead past tall old trees and simple brick buildings, giving the grounds a park-like feel.
The burial ground opened in 1894 to relieve older city cemeteries that had run out of space, after Amsterdam bought land from the neighboring Watergraafsmeer. It was expanded twice in the early 1900s, including the purchase of the Oud-Roosenburg estate, before reaching its current size in 1927.
Many of the older grave markers show family emblems, carved figures, and different religious symbols in one area, reflecting the mix of communities that have used the site for over a century. Sections maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission have rows of uniform headstones that stand apart from the more personal family plots nearby.
Wear comfortable shoes since the grounds are large and best explored on foot along the paved paths. Mornings tend to be quieter, and some areas are only reachable through narrow walkways, so allow time to wander without a fixed route.
The landscape architect Leonard Springer arranged the tree planting so that different sections feel like separate woodland rooms, with some paths opening suddenly onto wide lawns. His original 1892 layout is still visible today, making the grounds a living record of late 19th-century garden design.
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