Victims Of MH17 Return To The Netherlands In A Heartrending Procession

Pamela Engel

Jul 24, 2014, 01:04 IST

Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

Hearses carry coffins containing unidentified bodies from the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 on July 23, 2014 in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Nearly a week after Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 went down over eastern Ukraine, the victims are finally being returned home.

CNN has reporters in the Netherlands, where there is a procession on Wednesday for victims of downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. A plane arrived with the first 40 coffins Wednesday morning, and now dozens of hearses are making their way through the Netherlands.

Families are mourning their loved ones even as some bodies have yet to be identified.

Some family members of victims spoke to CNN. One man lost two nephews in the plane crash:

Others were on their way to vacation:

The Netherlands was the hardest hit by the crash - 193 Dutch nationals were killed when the plane was shot down.

The country is holding a national day of mourning for the victims.

The coffins arrived on planes:

Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

A Royal Dutch Air Force C130 lands with the bodies from the crash of MH17.

Netherlands officials were there as the planes arrived:

Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

L-R) King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands stands with Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as unidentified bodies from the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 are transferred to hearses.

And hearses were waiting to transport the bodies:

Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

Dutch military personnel carried the coffins off the planes:

Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

Dutch military personnel carry a coffin containing an unidentified body from the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

The bodies are being taken to be identified by forensic experts:

REUTERS/Marco de Swart

A man holds a Netherlands flag flying at half-mast (L) as a row of hearses carrying victims of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 plane disaster are escorted on highway A27 near Nieuwegein by military police, on their way to be identified by forensic experts in Hilversum.

A motorcade accompanied the vehicles:

REUTERS/Michael Kooren

A row of hearses carrying the bodies of victims killed in Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 plane disaster arrives at the Korporaal van Oudheusden barracks in Hilversum.

Thousands lined up along streets and highways to watch:

REUTERS/Marco de Swart

A convoy of hearses, bearing remains of the victims of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 crash, are escorted along the A27 highway by military police.

Check out some of the photos that have posted to Twitter:

Hearses carry victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 to Hilversum, Netherlands: http://t.co/dcvkrUJgJb pic.twitter.com/L7YZy0HgrS
- CNN Photos (@CNNPhotos) July 23, 2014

Very impressive: A huge procession for the 40 MH17 victims pic.twitter.com/1tGrctrfrb
- Michael van Poppel (@mpoppel) July 23, 2014

The procession of hearses as they enter the base at #Hilversum the true scale of the human loss is very visible #MH17 pic.twitter.com/A7ML7J8K5g
- Jonathan Swain (@SwainITV) July 23, 2014

People waiting for #MH17 procession near the entrance military base Hilversum #bringthemhome pic.twitter.com/xLLqnUjpkk
- Bertine L. Moenaff (@Bertine83) July 23, 2014

This photo really shows the scope of the procession:

A pic is sometimes stronger than a thousand words. Bodies of #MH17 victims arrive in Holland: pic.twitter.com/nlKuamAik9
- Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) July 23, 2014

People even crowded along overpasses to watch the procession go by:

Great shot of onlookers in Netherlands for #MH17 victim procession today #CNN; via Getty pic.twitter.com/mCJnbsD3q8
- Jason Morrell (@CNNJason) July 23, 2014

MH17 was reportedly shot down by pro-Russian rebels as it was flying over eastern Ukraine. Nearly 300 people died in the disaster.