Dutch Cemetery, Elmina
Gate of the cemetery with the Dutch inscription: "O weldadige moeder, ontvang uwe kinderen weder"
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| Details | |
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| Established | 1806 |
| Location | Elmina |
| Country | Ghana |
| Coordinates | 5°05′10″N 1°21′11″W / 5.0860°N 1.3530°W |
| Type | Public, non-denominational |
| No. of interments | ca. 70 |
The Dutch Cemetery of Elmina was constructed on the order of Governor of the Dutch Gold Coast J.P. Hoogenboom in 1806. Up until that date, the Dutch had buried their dead inside or just outside Elmina Castle, but by the beginning of the 19th century, little space was left there, so it was decided to construct a new cemetery in what was known as "the Garden" of Elmina. Ironically, Governor Hoogenboom was also one of the first people to be interred in the cemetery, after he was murdered by local Elminese people with whom he had a rift.
In the middle of the cemetery, a large tomb is situated in which the most prominent people were buried, including Governor Hoogenboom. Other prominent people interred are Governor Anthony van der Eb, Carel Hendrik Bartels, R. P. Baffour, Chief Kweku Andoh, and Elmina King Nana Kobena Isyan.
The cemetery was renovated in 2006, as part of the Elmina 2015 Strategy. The reconstruction was funded by the Dutch embassy. Among other things, the gate was restored, and the inscription reading "O weldadige moeder, ontvang uwe kinderen weder" (English translation: Oh benevolent mother, receive your children once again) was put into place again. A plaque unveiled on 24 July 2006 by Dutch ambassador to Ghana Arie van der Wiel and Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abirem Municipal District Chief Executive George Frank Asmah remembers this renovation.
Grave of Carel Hendrik Bartels
Statue of Fr. Auguste Moreau
Plaques on the tomb remembering Governor Hoogenboom (misspelt) and lieutenant Joost
Cemetery gate before renovation
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Wikipedia