MH17 memorial opens in Amsterdam on three-year anniversary
<p>The families of those killed in the MH17 tragedy will gather in the Netherlands today on the three-year-anniversary of the atrocity to remember the 298 people who died when their plane was shot down over Ukraine.</p>
<p>The relatives of the 38 Australians who died have travelled to the Netherlands and will gather at a park near Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport to remember and honour their loved ones on the three-year anniversary.</p>
<p>A new memorial to the victims – a forest of trees planted in the shape of a memorial ribbon – will be officially opened. Each tree carry the name of every person who died on the plane, and an amphitheatre in the centre of the forest brings all 298 names together.</p>
<p><img width="448" height="252" src="https://cdn-hit.scadigital.io/media/21316/mh17-monument-online.png?preset=MainImage" alt=" MH17 Forest Monument Unveiled On 3 Year Anniversary" class="article__image" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p>
<p>The flags of all the countries who lost citizens will be flown at half-mast. A number of nationalities lost their citizens in the atrocity, with the flight killing 196 Dutch citizens.</p>
<p>Around 2000 people are expected to attend the opening. The Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and royals King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima will be attending the ceremony.</p>
<p>The Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Airlines flight 17 was shot down over Ukraine on July 17, 2014. It is believed to have been carried out by pro-Russian rebels fighting against the Ukrainians near the border.</p>
