MONUMENT
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The objective of this project is the renovation of the tomb of Egbert Engberts, one of the few remaining graves of the so-called “Rusluie” from Vriezenveen, who visited in the period 1720 to 1920 St. Petersburg (Russia). These “Rusluie” were mostly tradesmen, doing business from the Gostiny Dvor. The “Rusluie” constitute a concrete and important part of the Historical Dutch cultural heritage in Russia. By writing all the names of the Dutch, who meet the criteria, on this monument, it receives the status of a Dutch National Monument. Not only individuals who had family in St. Petersburg will commemorate their family here, but also official Dutch delegations and the Consulate may benefit from this beautiful place to commemorate the Dutch presence. For example, during the Dutch-Russian Bilateral Year in 2013 this place can be used.
About 1771/1772 Catherine the Great, Empress of the Imperial Russia, issued a decree, which States that a deceased no longer could be buried in the Crypts of churches and/or on the Church courts. There must be built in Russia new cemeteries outside the city limits. The main reason for this Decree was the extreme increase in number of burials. An additional factor was to avoid diseases such as the "black death" (presumably the "fever").
The Volkovo cemetery, also spelled Wolkowo, Volkovskoe or Volkolovskoie, is one of the largest and oldest non-Orthodox cemeteries in St. Petersburg, founded in 1773. The first man who was buried here was Johann Gebhard Brethfeld, a St. Petersburg merchant. To the beginning of the 20th century it was one of the most important cemeteries for the from the Netherlands and Germany died people. Since the opening here about 100,000 people are buried.
The entire project costs € 54.235. The municipality of Twenterand, the province of Overijssel and the Wilhelmina E. Jansen Fund – under conditions apply – already promised an amount.
Once the report is final, it will be published here.