How do I visit the Netherlands American Cemetery at Margraten on Veterans Day 2026?
The Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, run by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00 and admission is free. It holds 8,288 American war dead, with 1,722 more names on the Walls of the Missing, and Dutch families have adopted the graves since 1945. Veterans Day falls on Wednesday, November 11, 2026; ABMC had not announced a public ceremony on October 20. Margraten is about 155 miles from Amsterdam, 3 h 01 by car on a clear road, so leave at 08:00 to have the middle of the day there.
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With a driver by the hour: prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, Margraten 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 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 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
A respectful day
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 08:00 | Pickup in Amsterdam |
| About 11:00 | Arrive; the visitor center staff can help locate a grave |
| 13:00 | Lunch in Maastricht, a short drive away |
| 14:30 | Maastricht old town, or back to the cemetery before the last admission at 16:45 |
| 16:30 | Drive back; sunset in Margraten is at 16:55 |
| About 19:30 | Amsterdam |
A day of 12 hours covers the round trip of about 441 km at 40 km included per hour: €780 in Business Class, €960 in Van Class for up to 7, €1,200 in First Class.
Visiting a relative's grave
Write to the cemetery before you go, at NLVC@abmc.gov, so staff can prepare; ABMC staff escort relatives to the grave. Groups of 10 or more can request a free tour two weeks ahead.
By public transport
ABMC describes a direct train from Amsterdam to Maastricht, then bus 350 to Margraten: possible, but a long day from Amsterdam.
Related questions
Is the cemetery open on holidays?
It is closed on December 25 and January 1, and the last admission is 15 minutes before closing.
Can we combine Margraten with a Christmas market later in the season?
Yes. Valkenburg's Christmas Town opens on November 13 and its cave markets run until December 30; Valkenburg is about 8 km from the cemetery.
Is there a ceremony on Veterans Day?
ABMC had not announced a public Veterans Day ceremony at Margraten on October 20, 2026. Its best-known ceremony is on Memorial Day weekend, on the Sunday before Memorial Day in May.
Can the driver wait?
Yes. An hourly booking includes waiting, for as long as you stay.
Sources
- Valkenburg Christmas Town (checked October 20, 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)
- 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)
- NOAA Solar Calculator, sunset times in Amsterdam (local time) (checked October 8, 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.