The bad news: Even in recent years, many people in Zurich have been different. The comforting news: Many did this à la prix garantie.

No expensive tombstone and no expensive plants on or in front of the grave. Very trendy: burying yourself in the garden with the urn.

The numbers speak for themselves. In 2000 there were 66,282 graves and niches in the cemeteries of the city of Zurich. the stock is falling continuously.

Not a single year without an increase: in 2005 there were fewer than 60,000 graves and niches, in 2013 fewer than 50,000, in 2019 fewer than 40,000 and in 2020 there were finally 38,254.

Spread over 19 municipal cemeteries with a total area of ​​almost 1.3 square kilometers. That’s half of Monaco plus twice the Pentagon.

Let’s stay with the math a little longer. The curve is quickly linear. In a few decades there will only be a handful of graves in Zurich’s cemeteries. Nothing suggests a countertrend.

The Mayor of Zurich, Corine Mauch (SP), is responsible for the funeral system. The nice thing about the presidential department is that you can’t really go wrong.

Among other things, Mauch is responsible for the basics of urban planning, for coordinating foreigner issues and for promoting equality between men and women. If she doesn’t pour out her coffee in the morning, the worst is already behind her.

Mauch has been city president for 12 years. There is also enough time to think about the rapid decline in graves.

You might think so. Mauch announced through her press spokesman: “Socially, ecologically and culturally, the cemeteries are extremely valuable and should be preserved whenever possible.”

Does this also apply if there are still 30 graves in the 19 cemeteries? “At the moment there are no political requests known to the Funeral and Cemetery Office.”

That would actually be Mauch’s job. Because the costs for the cemeteries are not falling, they are rising rapidly.

The direct economic costs of cemeteries were still 14.26 francs per square meter in 2019. A year later, they rose by over 8 percent, to 15.42 francs.

Fewer graves, higher costs; only Zurich can do that.

Example of the Manegg cemetery: a sheep peeps out of the site trailer. Where there used to be graves, it now eats its fill. There are further pastures on the left and right. At some point there will probably be cows.

In front of the entrance to the cemetery there is a letter from the presidential department in the glass case on “Conduct in the cemetery”. Point is:

“The change in funeral culture has meant that more and more green spaces remain free in cemeteries.”

Picnicking is now allowed, as is jogging. Nevertheless, one should “take into account the dignity of the place”. What is now allowed or forbidden is not clear. What about cycling?

The central question is: does the city of Zurich need 19 park-like cemeteries where you can only picnic and jog in dignity? Is alcohol allowed? Listen to music? To phone?

Or wouldn’t it be wiser to liquidate or merge a couple of expensive cemeteries? Not an easy question. Whoever provides them also creates enemies. Nothing for Mauch, who would rather rule with dignity than courage.