Remembrance Day

Each year a silent march takes place across Waalsdorpervlakte during Remembrance Day on 4 May. The procession forms around 19:20 from the direction of Oude Waalsdorperweg. The front section is reserved for the relatives of executed resistance fighters and for guests. The other participants follow on behind. The Bourdon Bell is sounded until just before 20:00 at Waalsdorpervlakte. The signal is followed by two minutes of silence. It is followed by the Dutch national anthem. The participants of the silent march then walk past the monument and can lay down flowers and wreaths. The Bourdon Bell is sounded again, until the last participant has passed the monument at around 22:00. Each year, approximately 3,000 people participate in the silent march on 4 May.

Waalsdorpervlakte
Waalsdorpervlakte is an area in the Meijendel dunes near Scheveningen where over 250 members of the Dutch resistance were executed during the Second World War. Located a short distance from the Oranjehotel prison in Scheveningen, this site was used by the Germans for firing squad executions. Nowadays, Waalsdorpervlakte is one of the most important Dutch memorials of the war. Erepeloton Waalsdorp commemorates the victims during Remembrance Day, which is held each year on 4 May. There is a silent march past the monument, flowers and wreaths are laid and the Bourdon Bell is sounded. 

Monument 
The Waalsdorpervlakte monument is formed on one side by a simple concrete band bearing the text "1940–1945". Behind it are four firing squad crosses that old resistance members put up in 1946 and that were replaced in 1980 by the current bronze replicas. The other part of the monument consists of the impressive Bourdon Bell that was erected in 1959. Since that time, the Bourdon Bell has formed an important part of the Remembrance Day. 

Directions to Waalsdorpervlakte
Waalsdorpervlakte is located in the dunes between The Hague and Wassenaar. During Remembrance Day the area is only accessible via Oude Waalsdorperweg. All paths from Meijendel dunes and other directions are closed. Due to traffic during the Remembrance Day service, it is advisable to travel by public transport.

From Station Den Haag Centraal bus 22 (towards Duinzigt) takes 20 minutes to get to Waalsdorperweg. The walk to Oude Waalsdorperweg from the bus stop is approximately 5 - 10 minutes. It is also possible to take bus line 23 towards Duindorp from Station Den Haag Laan van Nieuw Oost-Indië and Station Voorburg. Get off at Ziekenhuis Bronovo stop and then walk towards Waalsdorpervlakte.

Drivers should head towards the Landscheidingsweg / Oude Waalsdorperweg crossroads and can leave their vehicles in the neighbouring residential area. From there, the walk to the monument at Waalsdorpervlakte is approximately 15 minutes.