Information Centre Canadian War Cemetery

The Canadian War Cemetery is located in the scenic woods of Holten, The Netherlands. The great majority of the soldiers buried here lost their lives during the final stages of the Second World War in The Netherlands. The information center of the cemetery tells the stories of the men that gave their lives for the liberation of the Northern and Eastern provinces of The Netherlands in 1945. After the end of the war, their remains were brought to this cemetery. In total, The Canadian War Cemetery contains 1394 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.

Novel technologies provide access to a variety of interpretive information about the cemetery and some of the biographies of the people being commemorated in this location. These technologies include augmented reality techniques, a database of images, fragments of diaries and letters. Together, they contribute to the creation of a rich and complete image of the lives of these soldiers. It is the intention to enhance visitor’s understanding and appreciation of this memorial by reaching out the public with a variety of personal stories.

In the back of the visitor centre, an enormous picture wall is situated. Within this wall, personal objects and other valuables are on display. Additionally, four interactive stations show multiple movies and stories about related topics. Through the combination of real stories and objects, a visit to the information centre is a valuable and rich layer on top of the visit to the cemetery. It tells the stories, it remembers and it honours the soldiers buried here. Thereby, the visitor centre serves as a space for personal reflection.