As a board, we have been in contact several times with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). In September 2025, we made a joint visit to War Cemetery Brunssum, where we shared our wishes regarding possible improvements and adjustments to the cemetery.
One of those wishes was to clean the headstones with a group of volunteers. During the visit, however, it was emphasized once again that this is not allowed: the type of stone used is very soft and could easily be damaged. Despite that clear message, our idea did trigger a kind of snowball effect within the CWGC. They are now exploring a broader rollout of volunteer involvement in the Netherlands. In time, this could mean that volunteers may be able to assist with much more than just cleaning stones.
A structured volunteer programme has long been a shared wish of several parties in the Netherlands, as well as the CWGC itself. To set this up properly and avoid unregulated initiatives, it is important that a solid plan is created. That plan does not exist yet, but the coming year will provide the opportunity to develop it — and our input will be very valuable. Until then, it remains essential that no individuals start cleaning stones on their own initiative, as this could delay or even undermine the process, potentially causing the entire project to be cancelled.
Meanwhile, the CWGC maintenance team in Brunssum has begun work on raising the garden borders. We hope these improvements will have a positive effect on the overall appearance, and that some of the results will already be visible by May.
If you have any questions or would like to contribute ideas for the volunteer programme, feel free to let us know.
