Holland’s Special Days -
May 4 - Remembrance Day
May 5 - Liberation Day
Crowds celebrating Liberation Day in Dam Square, Amsterdam.
Source: http://www.rnw.nl/
Source: http://www.rnw.nl/
Since 1945, on May 4, the Dutch have held a national day, “Dodenherdenking,” Remembrance of the Dead, honoring those civilians and military who died during WWII, and all wars or peace-keeping missions thereafter. At 8:00 p.m., all over the country, a two-minute period of absolute silence is observed. Cars, buses, bicycles, trains and trams stop where they are. People come quietly together in public squares, waiting for the traditional bugle call for silence. People still making their way home stop on the sidewalks, doff their hats and bow their heads to acknowledge those who died in defense of freedom and liberty.
The commemoration is solemn and sobering, intended so every citizen, no matter how young or aged, whether recent citizen or WWII survivor, will never forget that freedom can be costly to win – and to hold onto – and to silently thank as well as remember those who died. There are no firecrackers, no block parties and barbecues, no brash brass bands; the festivities will come the next day when Dutch across the country will celebrate liberation on May 5, 1945 from Nazi occupation.
By far, the largest May 5 public commemoration takes place in Amsterdam at the National Memorial on the Dam, the main square of Amsterdam, in front of the Royal Palace, and the nearby Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). Members of the royal family and various dignitaries lead the crowds and nation in the tributes. However every city and village plans its own version of Remembrance Day, all activity stops for those long two minutes at 8 p.m. for silent commemoration.
For me, one of the most touching features of the Day of Remembrance is not just how the Dutch still honor and remember their own dead. They also honor and swear never to forget how so many non-Dutch fought and died in order to liberate Holland from Nazi occupation — the thousands of British, Canadian, American and Polish soldiers who also gave their lives in World War II.
Source: https://ourdistantsojourns.wordpress.com
The commemoration is solemn and sobering, intended so every citizen, no matter how young or aged, whether recent citizen or WWII survivor, will never forget that freedom can be costly to win – and to hold onto – and to silently thank as well as remember those who died. There are no firecrackers, no block parties and barbecues, no brash brass bands; the festivities will come the next day when Dutch across the country will celebrate liberation on May 5, 1945 from Nazi occupation.
By far, the largest May 5 public commemoration takes place in Amsterdam at the National Memorial on the Dam, the main square of Amsterdam, in front of the Royal Palace, and the nearby Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). Members of the royal family and various dignitaries lead the crowds and nation in the tributes. However every city and village plans its own version of Remembrance Day, all activity stops for those long two minutes at 8 p.m. for silent commemoration.
For me, one of the most touching features of the Day of Remembrance is not just how the Dutch still honor and remember their own dead. They also honor and swear never to forget how so many non-Dutch fought and died in order to liberate Holland from Nazi occupation — the thousands of British, Canadian, American and Polish soldiers who also gave their lives in World War II.
Source: https://ourdistantsojourns.wordpress.com
Netherlands American Cemetery
The World War II Netherlands American Cemetery is located in Margraten, The Netherlands, about six miles from the city of Maastricht on the road to Aachen, Germany. Margraten is approximately eleven miles east of the German border.
The Netherlands American Cemetery covers 65 acres and is the resting place of 8,301 Americans. On either side of the court of honor there are 1,723 Americans recorded on the Tablets of the Missing.
Source: http://www.awon.org/memorials/netherlands/
The Netherlands American Cemetery covers 65 acres and is the resting place of 8,301 Americans. On either side of the court of honor there are 1,723 Americans recorded on the Tablets of the Missing.
Source: http://www.awon.org/memorials/netherlands/