Can I visit the American Cemetery at Margraten and the Valkenburg Christmas caves on the same day?
Yes; they are only about 8 km apart. The Netherlands American Cemetery is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00, free, and closed on December 25 and January 1; Valkenburg's cave markets are open from November 13 to December 30 and also close on December 25. Leave Amsterdam around 08:00, spend the late morning at Margraten and the afternoon in the caves, and you are back by about 21:00.
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With a driver by the hour: prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, Margraten and Valkenburg day from Amsterdam | €65 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, Margraten and Valkenburg day from Amsterdam | €80 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, Margraten and Valkenburg day from Amsterdam | €100 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
By the hour: minimum 2 hours, 40 km included per hour, and the day starts and ends in the same city. The driver waits between stops. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. During ADE week (pickups October 20 to 26, 2026) fixed ADE-week prices apply, shown before you book; promo codes cannot be used that week. Booked less than 12 hours before pickup: +10%. At an airport or an intercity station the first 60 minutes of waiting are free, elsewhere 15 minutes; after that waiting is charged per minute at the class's hourly rate (Business €65 an hour). Free cancellation up to 1 hour before pickup.
What is included in the price
- A fixed price confirmed at booking, with VAT included: no meter and no surge
- The chauffeur’s name, car and phone number before pickup, plus e-mail reminders 24 hours and 2 hours ahead
- Water and phone chargers (iOS and Android) in the car
- Status updates to the person who booked, if that is not the passenger: confirmed, chauffeur en route, guest in the car, arrived
The day
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 08:00 | Pickup in Amsterdam |
| About 11:00 | Margraten; write to the cemetery ahead if you are visiting a grave |
| 12:45 | Lunch in Valkenburg |
| 13:45 | The Fluweelengrot and Gemeentegrot cave markets |
| 17:00 | Valkenburg old town in its lights |
| 18:00 | Drive back |
| About 21:00 | Amsterdam |
About 13 hours for about 446 km: €845 in Business Class, €1,040 in Van Class. Ask us before booking a day this long.
Dates to avoid
December 25 (both closed) and January 1 (the cemetery is closed, and the caves have ended on December 30). Weekends in December are crowded in Valkenburg.
Related questions
Can we go on Veterans Day?
The cemetery is open on Wednesday, November 11, but the cave markets only open on November 13; see Veterans Day at Margraten.
Can children come to Margraten and the caves?
Yes; prepare them for a quiet place before the busy caves.
Is there a guided tour of the cemetery?
Groups of 10 or more can request a free tour two weeks ahead.
Sources
- ANWB: Valkenburg (Dutch) (checked October 20, 2026)
- ABMC, plan your visit to Netherlands American Cemetery: open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except December 25 and January 1, last admission 15 minutes before closing, free, staff escort relatives to graves; direct train Amsterdam to Maastricht, then bus 350; about 155 miles from Amsterdam (checked September 29, 2026)
- American Battle Monuments Commission, Netherlands American Cemetery: 8,288 burials, 1,722 names on the Walls of the Missing, graves adopted by local families since 1945, Memorial Day ceremony on the Sunday before Memorial Day, visitor center open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., free tours for groups of 10 or more booked two weeks ahead, NLVC@abmc.gov for visits to a relative’s grave (checked September 29, 2026)
Book it, or ask dispatch first
Book online in a few minutes (no account, no app), or send your flight number and address on WhatsApp and dispatch replies in English, 24 hours a day.