Dutch National Remembrance Ceremony on 4 May 2026

News item | 17-04-2026 | 18:27

The Dutch Embassy invites you to join us for the annual Dutch National Remembrance Ceremony, (”Nationale Herdenking”), at the Netherlands Field of Honour at Mill Hill Cemetery on the 4th of May 2026. This year’s theme is "Understanding the Past" (de geschiedenis leren begrijpen).

Nationale Herdenking

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. Following the ceremony you will be invited to place a (provided) tulip on one of the individual 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 Wargraves Commission and the Anglo-Netherlands Society.  A representative from the German Embassy will lay a wreath on behalf of the government of Germany.  

Programme (British Summer Time)

  • 19:00     Reception with coffee/tea
  • 19:50     Final call to walk towards the Netherlands’  Field of Honour
  • 19:55     Start of the ceremony
  • 20:00     Two minutes silence
  • 20:02     National Anthem by Britt Lenting -  www.instagram.com/britt.lenting 
  • 20:20     End of ceremony

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

 

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 there is 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. 

More information about National Remembrance Ceremonies is available (in Dutch and English) on the website of the Nationaal Comité.