Mierlo has a deeply rooted tradition of adopting war graves. Over the years, the number of adoptions has grown, and in some cases adoptions have been passed down from generation to generation. An adoption symbolises a special bond or remembrance of the fallen serviceman, which results in extra care and attention for the grave.
While the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) professionally carries out general grounds maintenance, adoption involves paying tribute on special occasions and sharing the stories of the men buried here. The aim of our foundation is to revive and organise grave adoption at the British Cemetery.
The primary aim of grave adoption is to ensure that all the servicemen buried at the cemetery are not forgotten. Many graves are no longer visited because there are often no surviving relatives. We therefore offer the opportunity to adopt these graves.
Registering to adopt a grave is with no obligation. You can submit your details easily at the bottom of this page. Once your application has been received, it will be put on a waiting list and you will receive a confirmation email.
We aim to confirm the allocation of the grave (or multiple graves, where possible) within two weeks. Applications relating to existing adoptions for which our records are incomplete will be given priority.
The adoption of a grave is assigned to a specific individual or organisation.
Adopters are expected to visit their adopted grave at least once a year and to place a tangible tribute, such as flowers, a small cross or a commemorative token. Your presence at ceremonies makes the tribute visible and serves as a meaningful act of remembrance within the community.
Learning more about the fallen serviceman is in itself a valuable tribute. The Adoption Graves Mierlo Foundation greatly appreciates adopters who actively engage in this. Sharing these stories is essential to keeping the memory alive.
Support the Adoption Graves Mierlo Foundation: will you also help to preserve our history?
The CWGC, responsible for managing the cemetery, has established guidelines regarding the placement of objects on graves. These guidelines can be consulted here.
We ask adopters to behave respectfully at the cemetery. This includes appropriate dress, no pets, no use of recreational substances, and, of course, leaving no litter behind.
Grave allocation is carefully managed by the Foundation’s board. Do you have a strong preference for a specific grave? Please explain this clearly in your application. We will take this into account where possible.
After registering, and also at a later stage, you will receive confirmation emails. These may sometimes end up in your spam folder, depending on your email provider.
To prevent this, we recommend adding our email address info@adoptiegravenmierlo.nl to your contacts before submitting your application.
