Local communities

Municipal Spaces of Silence and Ceremonies for COVID Bereaved
For those who lost loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic, farewells were often abrupt. No closeness. No ritual. The municipalities of Sint-Truiden and Alken recognised the need to create space for collective mourning, acknowledgement, and solace.
We supported both municipalities in designing public moments of remembrance, incorporating symbolism, poetry, art, quiet reflection spaces, and ritual guidance. Each village developed its own tone and community involvement, with flowers as central symbols (forget-me-nots and dandelions).
In Sint-Truiden, a contemplative ceremony was held at the Speelhof and broadcast live via regional television. In Alken, places of comfort were established in each sub-municipality, featuring contributions from local artists and community groups. Mayors inaugurated these spaces together with bereaved families.
These rituals offered recognition for grief that had long gone unspoken. They provided comfort and connection, not only for the bereaved, but for the wider community. Through shared mourning, loss was acknowledged, and healing became possible.
“The ritual gave voice to what had lived beneath the surface. Pain was given a place, and people recognised themselves in each other’s loss.”