How do I get to the Memorial Day ceremony at Margraten?
The cemetery holds its Memorial Day ceremony on the Sunday before Memorial Day, which by that rule is May 30, 2027; confirm the date and any access arrangements with the cemetery before you book. From Amsterdam it is about 3 h 01 by car, a 12-hour day at €780 in Business Class, or stay in Maastricht the night before and take the 11 km ride out on the morning itself.
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A day from Amsterdam, by the hour
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, Memorial Day at Margraten, 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, Memorial Day at Margraten, 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, Memorial Day at Margraten, 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 |
12 hours cover the round trip of about 442 km. From a Maastricht hotel, the ride to the cemetery is the €70 minimum in Business Class. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. 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.
Two ways to plan the day
| Plan | How | Business Class |
|---|---|---|
| A day from Amsterdam | Early pickup, about 3 h 01 each way, the chauffeur waits | €780 |
| Maastricht the night before | Amsterdam → Maastricht (213 km) on Saturday | €728 |
| Hotel → cemetery (11 km) on Sunday morning, and back | €70 each way |
Per car, VAT included. Van Class for a family or veterans’ group of up to 7.
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
Before you book
- Confirm the date. ABMC announces the ceremony; the rule is the Sunday before Memorial Day.
- Ask about access that morning. Parking, road closures or shuttle arrangements are set for the day; we plan the drop-off around them.
- Book early. A holiday weekend date is best reserved as soon as your trip is set.
- Choose the base. A day from Amsterdam, or a night in Maastricht for a calmer morning.
Related questions
Why stay in Maastricht the night before?
The cemetery is only about 15 minutes from Maastricht, so the morning starts without three hours in the car. You pay two one-way rides and two short local ones instead of a 12-hour day.
Can the whole family travel together?
Yes, up to 7 people in Van Class, one car and one price for the day; larger groups take two cars that travel together.
Is the cemetery open as usual that weekend?
It is open every day except December 25 and January 1, but on a ceremony day the arrangements can differ. Check with the cemetery (NLVC@abmc.gov) before you plan the rest of the day.
Sources
- 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.–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)
- ABMC — plan your visit to Netherlands American Cemetery: open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. except December 25 and January 1, last admission 15 minutes before closing, free, staff escort relatives to graves; direct train Amsterdam–Maastricht, then bus 350; about 155 miles from Amsterdam (checked September 29, 2026)
- OpenStreetMap road routing (OSRM) — distances quoted as “about … km” (checked September 24, 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.