Opened cemeteries in Riga and Jurmala
Open cemeteries are cemeteries where burial plots can be arranged for a family or an individual based on their place of residence. The remaining cemeteries are either partially closed or fully closed, and burials can only be conducted in special cases determined by the respective municipality.
We want to provide an explanation of how cemeteries in Riga and Jurmala are categorized and what issues need to be addressed if relatives wish to bury the deceased in a specific cemetery.
Jurmala Cemeteries
The operation of cemeteries in Jurmala is regulated by the Jurmala City Council. The "Jurmala Cemetery" municipal institution maintains and manages cemeteries in Jurmala, overseeing five cemeteries:
- Jaundubulti Cemetery, on Lielupe Street,
- Sloka Cemetery on Varoņu Street,
- Ķemeri Cemetery,
- Sloka New or Meža Cemetery on Eduarda Veidenbauma Street,
- Beberbeki Cemetery - maintained by "Jurmala Cemetery" in cooperation with the Babīte municipality.
Ķemeri Cemetery, Sloka Old Cemetery, Jaundubulti Cemetery, and Beberbeki Cemetery are partially closed for new burials - burials are conducted only if there are family burial plots available.
New burials in Jurmala are only available at Sloka New Meža Cemetery.
If there are no family burial plots and a new burial plot needs to be arranged, it must be proven that the deceased was a resident of Jurmala. Jurmalians have the opportunity to receive a new burial plot and bury the deceased if the deceased's last declared place of residence was in Jurmala.
Since March 5, 2019, residents do not have to pay a rental fee for burial plots and their allocation.
The fee-based services include chapel rental, bell ringing during the funeral ceremony, site preparation for the funeral ceremony, preparation and issuance of certificates for burial, repeated measuring, division, or consolidation of burial plots.
The Meža Cemetery also houses a columbarium - a specially designed place for storing capsules with the cremated remains of the deceased. A contract must be concluded with the cemetery manager for the use of a columbarium niche - this is a fee-based service. Any resident of Latvia can use this service.
Riga Cemeteries
There are various types of cemeteries in Riga, but not all of them allow burials. There are three types of municipal cemeteries in the capital: open, partially closed, and closed cemeteries. The Riga City Council ensures the management and maintenance of 21 cemeteries.
In open cemeteries, the cemetery manager will provide the option to select a new burial plot or allow for an overburial. In Riga, such cemeteries are Jaunciems and Bolderāja Cemeteries.
Residents of Riga have the opportunity to receive a new burial plot and bury the deceased if the deceased's last declared place of residence was in the administrative territory of Riga or bury the deceased's relatives in an existing family burial plot.
Cemetery categorization in Riga -
2 open cemeteries: Jaunciems Cemetery, Bolderāja Cemetery (Bolderāja New Cemetery).
15 partially closed cemeteries, where the deceased are buried in family plots, but the allocation of new burial plots is limited. I Meža Cemetery, II Meža Cemetery, Miķeļa Cemetery, Raiņa Cemetery, Sarkandaugava Cemetery, Pļavnieki Cemetery, Matīsa Cemetery, Jugla Cemetery, Biķeri Cemetery, Lāčupe Cemetery, Ziepniekkalns Cemetery, Pleskodāle Cemetery, New Jewish Cemetery, Old Bolderāja Cemetery.
4 closed cemeteries, which are closed for burials and overburials - except for urns with cremated remains in family burial plots. Torņakalns Cemetery, Torņakalns Orthodox Cemetery, Mārtiņa Cemetery, Kapsila Cemetery, Sarkandaugava Hill Cemetery. Functions of Riga City Cemetery Administration.
- Organization and control of cemetery maintenance and management
- provision of burial and grave digging services
- planning and organization of the establishment of new cemeteries
- ensuring accurate, transparent, and secure burial records, as well as mapping of burial sites
- establishment and maintenance of an electronic database of burial sites
- quality control of services provided by entrepreneurs operating in cemeteries in accordance with contracts concluded by the Department and coordination of their activities.
- Organization of cremation and burial of non-relatives or those recognized as such.
Special Procedure
Paragraph 20 of the Regulations on the Operation and Maintenance of Riga City Council Cemeteries states that a partially closed cemetery can assign a burial site to a deceased person who has made significant contributions to the state or the city of Riga during their lifetime, based on the submission of the relevant state authority, creative association, non-governmental organization, or professional association.
Our funeral home "Angel" has opened a new branch in Jurmala, at 9 Nometņu Street. We provide support and assistance 24/7, from consultation and document processing to organizing farewell ceremonies.
To receive a consultation or to arrange transportation from home to the morgue, our 24/7 hotline is at your disposal:
Data edited on: 22. May 2024.
