Flemish municipalities support memorials for deceased children
Nine out of 10 Flemish municipalities now have a "star register", commemorating children who have died, and two out of three have a memorial site.
A star register is an official municipal record where parents can document the name of a stillborn baby or a child who died shortly after birth, ensuring recognition even when the child did not receive a conventional birth certificate.
“It’s encouraging to see so many local authorities actively working on this,” said Flemish Interior minister Hilde Crevits.
Friday marks the start of Koesterweek, a week of remembrance organised by the support association Berrefonds, during which the organisation calls for recognition for families who have lost a child. Last year, Crevits asked the 285 Flemish cities and municipalities to establish a star register or create a memorial site.
"The fact that so many municipalities have provided such a site is a powerful sign of compassion"
While 196 municipalities had a star register last year, the number has now risen to 262, meaning that 92 per cent of Flemish municipalities have one. Of the 23 municipalities that do not yet have one, 15 have indicated that they are working on it.
“I am very pleased that our call and letter from last year resonated so well,” Crevits said. “Thanks to the efforts of local authorities, we now have clear figures for the first time. What began with one pioneering municipality in May 2023 has grown, two-and-a-half years later, to 261 local authorities with their own star register.”
Memorial sites and star meadows
Meanwhile, two out of three Flemish municipalities have a memorial site or star meadow, a place where children can be buried and commemorated.
“The fact that so many municipalities have provided such a site is a powerful sign of compassion," said Crevits. "We also encourage other local authorities to consider this, so that every parent in Flanders has a place to commemorate."
For the first time, an overview of all municipalities with a star meadow or memorial site has been published on the website of the Agency for Home Affairs.
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO MEGANCK KEVYN
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