Lennik (Bressels Morning Newspaper) – Lennik launched the “Mailbox to Heaven” project with Réveil, in cemeteries, led by Mayor Irina De Knop (Open VLD), part of a comfort marathon running through October and November 2025.
As VRT News reported, the cemeteries in Lennik, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium, now have a “Mailbox to Heaven.” Visitors can post letters to loved ones who have passed away. Mayor Irina De Knop (Open VLD) said the town wants to support a society where grief can be discussed and no one feels alone.
He mentioned that the idea was developed with the non-profit group Réveil, which works on remembrance and comfort projects across Belgium. Together, they held sessions with residents and local groups to collect ideas on how to deal with loss in a caring way.
What is Lennik’s “Mailbox to Heaven” and how does it bring comfort?
The town has also created a “place of solace” along the Lange Tramweg, a quiet green spot on a walking and cycling route. People can rest there, reflect, or talk with others. Officials mentioned that the most notable part of the new remembrance project in Lennik is the “Heavenly Mail.” Every cemetery now has a mailbox where people can leave letters, cards, or drawings for loved ones who have passed away.
“We will empty the mailbox occasionally. Of course, we won’t read the messages; we’ll respect their privacy. We still have to work out what we’ll do with those letters,”
said Mayor Irina De Knop (Open VLD).
The initiative is part of Lennik’s “comfort marathon,” which runs through October and November. Several activities will take place to support those coping with grief. There will be a moment of comfort for young people, a candlelight walk, and a themed evening at Gaasbeek Castle focused on remembrance. The program will end on November 2, 2025, All Souls’ Day, with a commemorative ceremony of words and music.
Similar “Mailbox to Heaven” projects have already appeared in several parts of Belgium in recent years. Towns like Ternat, Lier, and Mechelen set up mailboxes at cemeteries where people can leave letters or drawings for loved ones who have passed away. The same concept has also been used in the Netherlands and Germany, where it is known as “Letters to Heaven” or “Post to the Stars.”
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