Mark Harbers deeply regrets that the twelve WWII veterans and their escorts cannot come to the commemoration of Market Garden. The Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management immediately contacted Schiphol and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee to obtain information. They indicated that they were not aware of this request because it had been requested in a different way than usual.

Normally, a request is submitted to the KMAR and from there everything is arranged for them and Schiphol facilitates where necessary. This did not happen this time due to miscommunication and Schiphol and the KMAR deeply regret that. As a military organization, the KMAR understands better than anyone that veterans deserve recognition and respect.

Schiphol and the KMAR contacted the organizer and explained the situation and made agreements for the future to prevent a recurrence. The next opportunity is in December if the veterans want to go to the commemoration of the Ardennes Offensive. The KMAR and Schiphol have offered every assistance to help with this. This also applies to other future commemorations.

When asked whether Harbers was willing to ask Schiphol to give priority to the veterans concerned next month and to guarantee a safe journey, he informed Schiphol and the KMAR that he had contacted the organizer of the trip about this and who decided to cancel the trip. cancel trip. The Minister can no longer make a difference and appreciates the fact that good mutual agreements have been made to prevent a recurrence.

Harbers stated in a letter this answer to the questions posed by member Koerhuis to the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management about the message that veterans cannot go to the WWII commemoration due to Schiphol chaos and corona.