Dutch National Remembrance Ceremony 4 May 2025

News item | 11-04-2025 | 14:07

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the United Kingdom invites you to join us for the annual Dutch National Remembrance Ceremony, the (”Nationale Herdenking”), at the Netherlands Field of Honour at Mill Hill Cemetery on the 4th of May 2025. The ceremony will be held in Dutch.

80 Years of Freedom

The National Remembrance Ceremony commemorates Dutch civilians and military personnel who died during wars and peacekeeping operations since World War II in the Netherlands and anywhere in the world. This year the ceremony will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII.

Before gathering at the memorial for the start of the ceremony, there will be an opportunity to place a (provided) tulip on one of the graves.

During the ceremony, Ambassador Paul Huijts will first lay a wreath on behalf of the Dutch Government. Other wreaths will follow on behalf of the Netherlands Armed Forces, “Engelandvaarders”, “Vereniging Neerlandia” , Dutch Church, Commonwealth War Graves Commission.  A representative of the German Embassywill lay a wreath on behalf of the government of Germany.

 

Programme (British Summer Time):

 

  • 19:00 - reception with coffee/tea, opportunity to place a tulip on a grave.

  • 19:45 - final call to walk towards the Netherlands’  Field of Honour

  • 19:50 - start of the ceremony

  • 20:00 - Two minutes silence

  • 20:20 - End of ceremony

 

The Embassy will be take photos during the ceremony, however images of children will be anonymized. Please notify us, if you do not wish to be photographed.

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More information about National Remembrance Ceremonies is available (in Dutch) on the website: Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei .

 

Location of Mill Hill Cemetery

Address

Mill Hill Cemetery, 89 Milespit Hill, Londen NW7 2RR

By car from London

Take A1 towards the North until Mill Hill Circus roundabout. Take roundabout fully, return on A1 towards London for 50 metres. Turn left before Esso Station (Daws Lane B1416). Turn right at next T-junction, follow Wise Lane. Cemetery at the end, free parking but no parking near the chapel.  

By public transport

Mill Hill East Underground Station on Northern Line. 20-minute walk to the cemetery or Bus 221