Amsterdam Bijlmer disaster memorial service, 4 October

Bijlmer plane crash

On the evening of Sunday 4 October 1992, disaster struck in the Bijlmermeer when an Israeli cargo plane crashed into two blocks of flats in the heart of the Bijlmer, Amsterdam.

The three-man crew of the plane were among the forty-three people who lost their lives and numerous others were injured in the tragedy. The accident ripped open the front of the flats which later had to be partially demolished.

The tree that saw everything

Shortly after the accident, survivors and relatives of the deceased erected a memorial to the disaster around the ‘tree that saw everything’ - a tree on the site of the tragedy that survived the crash and resulting fire.

They placed tea lights and photographs of those who perished in the accident around the tree. The annual memorial service now traditionally takes place at the ‘tree that saw everything’. The flight path over the Bijlmer is normally extremely busy, but all flights along the route are redirected during the memorial service.

Programme

The programme begins at 17:45 with several speakers and musical performances. A minute of silence will be held at 18:35, the time at which the plane crashed. At 18:40, wreathes will be laid by relatives of the deceased, representatives of the City of Amsterdam, embassies, organisations and Amsterdam Zuidoost residents. The annual informal get-together follows the memorial from 19:00 to 21:00 at De Nieuwe Stad, Luthuliplein 11, Amsterdam Zuidoost.

More information

For more information about the memorial, please contact the Bijlmer Disaster Memorial Working Group (Werkgroep Herdenking Bijlmervliegramp) by calling (0031) (0)6 302 65 180 or by email.