The victims of the Paris terror attacks are set to be honoured by candlelight before Germany host the Netherlands on Tuesday in what has been described as "a friendly in the true sense of the word".

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to attend the match in Hanover -- the world champion's first since their international in Paris Friday night was interrupted by the blasts of suicide bombers outside the Stade de France.

German-Dutch clashes are traditionally steeped in rivalry with edgy, tense matches.

But all that was set to be put aside for a match the German Football Association (DFB) came close to calling off over the weekend, while Belgium have cancelled their friendly against Spain on Tuesday.

A candlelit procession from Hanover's city centre to the stadium is planned before kick-off to honour the victims and their families of last Friday's attacks, which claimed at least 129 lives across Paris with more than 350 injured.

"We want to take this opportunity to use light as a sign of sympathy to the world," the chairman of the Friends of Hanover, Roger Cericius, told the Hannoversche Allgemeine newspaper.

The DFB are also planning a gesture of sympathy before kick-off, but it remains to be seen whether the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, will be sung.

Germany are still coming to terms with what they experienced last Friday at their international against France.

After the blasts, the Germans spent the night in the Stade de France changing room, as it was still considered too dangerous to cross Paris, before flying home early the next morning.

"There was a lot of fear and anxiety in the dressing room that night. We were afraid," admitted head coach Joachim Loew, who revealed the players had asked to leave as soon as the match was over.

Loew looked drained in Monday's pre-match press conference, which was light on football and high on compassion, as he explained why the match must be played.

"It's a clear message and symbol of freedom and a demonstration of compassion, as well as sorrow, for our French friends -- not only in France, but throughout the world," said Loew.

The Dutch are in the process of rebuilding their side, after missing out on qualifying for Euro 2016, but coach Danny Blind echoed Loew's sentiments that competitive football will take a backseat for the evening.

"The good thing about the decision to play the game is that it shows we aren't shying away from terror," said Blind.

Loew has stood down six players for the match and already said the result will be irrelevant, as far as he was concerned.

Both sides will be without their captains, with Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger and Holland's Arjen Robben both rested and Blind says it will be a friendly "in the true sense of the word".

Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who plays in Germany's top flight for Schalke, says he has nothing but sympathy for what the Germans went through in Paris on Friday.

"We heard about it through the media, but these boys really experienced it," he told German daily Bild.