Dutch Cemetery, Elmina

The Dutch Cemetery of Elmina is a colonial-era burial ground in Elmina, in Ghana's Central Region, established in 1806 on the order of Johannes Petrus Hoogenboom, then Governor of the Dutch Gold Coast. Until that time the Dutch buried their dead inside or just outside Elmina Castle, but by the early 19th century little space remained, so a new cemetery was laid out in what was known as "the Garden" of Elmina. Governor Hoogenboom was among the first to be interred there, after he was killed by local Elminese people with whom he had a disagreement.

A large tomb in the middle of the cemetery holds its most prominent burials, among them governor-general Herman Willem Daendels, acting commanders Johannes Oosthout and Eduard Daniel Leopold van Ingen, and governor Anthony van der Eb. Others buried here include Carel Hendrik Bartels, R. P. Baffour, Chief Kweku Andoh and Elmina King Nana Kobina Gyan. The cemetery is public and non-denominational, with about 70 interments, and local residents have preserved it as a resting place for influential members of the community.

The site was renovated in 2006 as part of the Elmina 2015 Strategy, funded by the Dutch embassy. The gate was restored and the Dutch inscription "O weldadige moeder, ontvang uwe kinderen weder" — "Oh benevolent mother, receive your children once again" — was reinstated. A plaque unveiled on 24 July 2006 by Dutch ambassador Arie van der Wiel and Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abirem Municipal District Chief Executive George Frank Asmah commemorates the renovation.

The cemetery lies in Elmina, in the Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abirem Municipal District, at roughly 5.086 N, 1.353 W. It is within walking distance of St. George's Castle (Elmina Castle) and Fort Coenraadsburg (St. Jago), and it features as a stop on Elmina walking and heritage tours. Visitors should treat it as an active burial ground rather than a monument: the graves, the central tomb and the restored gate and inscription are the principal things to see. Opening hours, entry fees and guided-tour arrangements are not confirmed by the available sources, so these should be checked locally before a visit.