My grandfather's bomber crashed in the Netherlands in WWII. How do we find the site and visit it?
Start with the Dutch researchers who mapped the air war. The Study Group Air War 1939-1945 (SGLO), founded in 1975, published a loss register of more than 6,000 military aircraft that crashed in the Netherlands, and its online register lets you search by date, unit or aircraft; the group can be contacted for specific cases, though it doesn't excavate. Some crash sites have a small memorial, often kept by local volunteers, and a village historical society often knows the farmer's field. Once you have the place, a car takes you from Amsterdam and waits while you stand there; much of the country is within two hours.
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With a chauffeur by the hour: prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €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, with a chauffeur by the hour | €80 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €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, starting and ending in the same city. The chauffeur 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
Finding the place
| Step | Where |
|---|---|
| Date, unit, serial number | Family papers, the airman's records |
| The crash location | SGLO loss register |
| What's there now | The local historical society or municipality |
| Remains in the soil | Recovery is a Ministry of Defence matter, not a visit |
On the day
Bring a printout of the record, ask the society if someone can meet you, and allow time: crash sites are often in open country, reached by farm roads. A day of 6 to 8 hours costs €390 to €520 in Business Class.
Related questions
Is the airman buried at Margraten?
Many American airmen who died in the Netherlands are; others were repatriated.
Do Dutch towns hold ceremonies?
Some do, on the anniversary of the crash; ask the society.
Can you combine two sites?
Yes, if they're in the same region.
Sources
- SGLO: the Study Group Air War 1939-1945 (checked October 31, 2026)
- SGLO: loss register (checked October 31, 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.