Remembrance takes centre stage at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, while the “Rondom het Plateau van Margraten” walking route focuses on the landscape. When planning your visit, it is therefore helpful to consider both the cemetery’s visiting arrangements and the route’s length and character. The information below will help you tailor your stay to your interests and schedule.
Remembrance at the Netherlands American Cemetery
The Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial is the only American military cemetery in the Netherlands. More than 8,000 American soldiers are buried there. On guided tours, visitors learn the personal stories of around ten American soldiers. This brings two perspectives together: the scale of the memorial site and the individual life stories shared on a tour.
The cemetery is open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on 25 December and 1 January; admission is free. If you are planning a visit for a specific day, it is advisable to check the latest information from the ABMC before travelling. These opening hours and the two holiday exceptions provide a clear framework when adding a visit to your day’s plans.
Free guided tours are available for groups of ten or more and should be booked at least two weeks in advance. For groups, the minimum size and advance booking period are therefore the key points to prepare for. A guided tour is particularly worth considering if the soldiers’ personal stories are important to your visit.
The Memorial Day commemoration takes place every year on the last Sunday in May at the cemetery in Margraten. If you are planning to attend, check the exact programme before travelling. Unlike visits, which follow daily opening hours, Memorial Day takes place on a specific Sunday; its annual date gives your plans a clear timeframe.
Hiking around the Plateau van Margraten
The 7.6 km “Rondom het Plateau van Margraten” walking route starts in Margraten. It passes farms, pastures and orchards; from the Plateau van Margraten, you can enjoy views of the hills of South Limburg. The route combines specific landscape features along the way with open views across the hills. If you are considering a walk as part of your time in Margraten, the stated distance and these landscape views can help you decide.
The cemetery and walking route appeal to different interests: the cemetery is about remembrance, public visiting arrangements and, for groups, a guided tour that must be booked in advance; the walk is defined by its route and landscape. Their schedules also differ: the cemetery has daily opening hours, with the holiday exceptions noted above; Memorial Day takes place on a set date each year; and the route is 7.6 kilometres long. Choose your focus according to whether you are more interested in the history of remembrance or a hike through the hilly countryside of South Limburg.
Discover more destinations: Mesch, Eckelrade, Gronsveld, Bemelen, Noorbeek, Eijsden
Go to the main travel overview: Eijsden-Margraten.
