Some 25,000 people attended Sunday evening’s wreath-laying ceremony by queen Beatrix on Amsterdam’s Dam square in honour of all those who have died in conflicts from world war two onwards.

The attendance was up 10,000 on 2007.
There were ceremonies at war memorials nationwide. In Rotterdam, prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende remembered navy personnel who died during the war.
There was a two-minute silence at 8pm.
In orthodox Christian areas such as Staphorst, Genemuiden and Sprang-Capelle, wreaths were laid on Saturday so as not to interfere with the traditional day of rest.