Hundreds of grieving family members and friends of victims of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 disaster are gathering in Amsterdam for a national commemoration ceremony nearly four months after the passenger jet was downed over eastern Ukraine killing all 298 people on board.
Family and friends of the victims were being joined by Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and other dignitaries for Monday's event in a conference center on the outskirts of the Dutch capital.
Speaking to broadcaster NOS ahead of the commemoration, Rutte said it will be "a chance for the Netherlands to show the next of kin that they are not standing alone."
Vlaggen halfstok bij RAI #nationaleherdenking #MH17 pic.twitter.com/ajS9R2vs11— Jeroen de Jager (@Geluidjager) November 10, 2014
During his speech at the memorial service, Rutte summed up some of the questions families of the victims had asked themselves following the crash.
"Ladies and gentlemen, and above all, relatives and friends of the victims: which of you has not asked yourselves, ‘What if?’ since July 17th? It’s a question that has no answer," said Rutte. "One that wells up inside us and at the same time makes us feel helpless. Because there is no ‘What if?’. There is only the harsh reality of 298 deaths – 298 people."
Family members of the victims read out the 298 names of those who were killed in the crash during the emotional ceremony.
#MH17 Time taken: 23 minutes for families to read out the names of all 298 of their loved ones shot out of the sky. #nationaleherdenking— Lauren Comiteau (@laurencomiteau) November 10, 2014
US Ambassador to the Netherlands Timothy Broas attended the ceremony and also offered his condolences to the families of the victims.
No words to describe #MH17 commemoration today. Deepest condolences to all who lost a loved one. #nationaleherdenking pic.twitter.com/KS5sSbbpkt— Timothy Broas (@usambnl) November 10, 2014
The Boeing 777 was shot down on July 17 while flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.