A boat will sail through the city of Amsterdam to commemorate those who have been lost during the coronavirus crisis.
The boat, named Heart of Consolation (Hart van Troost), will be decorated with flowers and lights and will sail through the rivers and canals of the Dutch capital for one week, starting Saturday, July 4. Family members and friends will be able to order a free flower with a personal message which will be placed on the boat.
Mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, has said that now that the Netherlands has passed the peak of the virus, it is important to look back and remember those who have been lost. The boat is an initiative of the municipality of Amsterdam, who has also announced that they can be contacted if another city would like to do something similar.
Hart van Troost will set sail on Saturday at 4pm from the Zwanenburgwal, where Mayor Halsema will lay a flower on the boat, together with others who have lost loved ones. From July 4 to July 11, the boat will sail every day from 4pm through to midnight. On July 5, the boat will also sail through Amstelveen, Diemen, and Weesp. The full route can be found on the Hart van Troost website.
"It is hard to imagine how difficult it is to lose a loved one and not be able to say goodbye," says the mayor, “we'll let the Hart van Troost sail around for all the deceased and their relatives.”
A flower in memory of a loved one can be ordered via the website until July 10.