Sebastiaan Kuipers, President of the Diplomatic Governing Board, spoke about the importance of shared stewardship in the ways we remember the past and care for the spaces where our histories converge.

Consul General of the Netherlands in Istanbul, Arjen Uijterlinde praised the Feriköy  Initiative’s contributions, stating, “Their expertise is invaluable for appreciating the unique heritage of this cemetery and is of great help in the choices we make on a day-to-day basis with regard to the administration of the cemetery.”

He also reflected on Feriköy’s founding in 1859, recalling how Sultan Abdülmecid I gifted this land to the embassies of the leading Protestant powers of the time, including Great Britain, Prussia, the United States, the Netherlands, Sweden, and others, after the old burial grounds in Pera were repurposed for urban development. “Today, we are honored to share in the responsibility for the upkeep of this cemetery with our friends from Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Sweden, Hungary, and Switzerland,” he noted. “Each year, one of us serves as president of the board. In 2025, it is the Netherlands’ turn.”

During its presidency the Netherlands aims to preserve the cemetery while broadening public awareness of its unique story. The cemetery’s 2022 recognition by the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe provided a suitable occasion to do just that. Feriköy is now one of over 150 member cemeteries that collectively work to preserve Europe’s historic burial grounds.

“This year’s WDEC theme, Gardens of 80, commemorates 80 years since the end of World War II and ties into the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 16: to promote just, peaceful, and inclusive societies,” he said. “Feriköy stands as an embodiment of that goal — a place of resilience and cooperation between seven countries and the City of Istanbul, across generations.”

As part of ASCE’s international Peace Tree Project, olive trees have been planted in places like Maribor, Halifax, and Budapest. “Here in Istanbul,” the Consul General explained, “we chose an olive tree not only for its symbolism of peace, but also because of its rootedness in Turkish horticulture and its contribution to biodiversity. As recent research by the British Institute at Ankara has shown, cemeteries such as this one serve as essential corridors for urban life and green connectivity.”

The olive tree was ceremonially planted in front of the chapel. The event concluded with refreshments served from one of Feriköy’s oldest neighborhood bakeries, featuring its beloved Süryani Çörekleri, or “Assyrian Buns.”