From grass surfaces to seasonal experience with bulb mixtures at Cemetery De Wissel in Dronten

A valuable function for public spaces

How do you give unused burial plots a meaningful function without compromising the peace and dignity of a cemetery?

At Cemetery De Wissel in Dronten, this question was at the heart of the brief. The Municipality of Dronten aimed to improve mowing management, introduce more colour to the park-like setting, and offer visitors an additional layer of experience. In collaboration with Lubbe Lisse, a pick-your-own garden concept was chosen, combining bulb mixtures and herb mixtures that reinforce one another: a design that makes the seasons visible, encourages biodiversity, and allows visitors to pick flowers for use at a grave.

Fields full of colour

The unused burial plots have been planted with bulb and herb mixtures. This creates a layered visual effect that brings early-season colour and continues to develop as different flowering species emerge. The former grass areas thus add seasonal experience and natural variation without disrupting the calm atmosphere.

A key element of the concept is that visitors are allowed to pick flowers to place at a grave. In this way, the planting has not only a visual function but also a personal meaning, contributing to remembrance and connection.

Collaboration and implementation in public space

The installation took place in October 2025 on behalf of the Municipality of Dronten. In total, approximately 230 m² was planted with bulbs and around 350 m² was sown with a herb mixture. This combination creates a planting scheme that supports biodiversity, enhances seasonal experience, and reduces the need for intensive mowing.

The mix includes species with both picking value and ecological value, such as crocuses and alliums, which contribute to biodiversity and provide food for insects.

Cemetery De Wissel demonstrates how a functional grass surface can be transformed into a place that reveals the seasons, engages visitors, and simultaneously strengthens biodiversity.