This year marks 75 years since World War II ended. In the Netherlands this is commemorated in particular on 4 and 5 May, but attention has also been paid to it in recent months. There were several events in which members of the Dutch royal family participared. An overview
Every year the National 4 and 5 may comittee chosen a theme of the year. This year it was “stories to never forget” Princess Mabel wrote the year theme text. She recited this text 9th of November during a meeting at Leerhotel Het Klooster in Amersfoort. The Princess also give an interview for the Libelle special 75 years of freedom
But what I am most convinced of is that freedom is not built on big beautiful words, but is achieved through small concrete actions. Actions in our own home, our own lives. Actions to prevent conflicts – big or small. Actions to eliminate injustice, inequality and oppression. Actions to let your fellow man know that he or she counts – just like you. Those acts – big and small – form the basis for new stories. Stories to share with each other. Stories that connect us.
Princess Mabel in the text she wrote for the National Comittee 4 and 5 May.
On September 2 Princess Margriet hand over “Liberation75” tulip bulbs to Canadian Veteran Don White. The handover symbolizes 100,000 tulip bulbs that the Netherlands donates to Canada, 75 years after the liberation of the Netherlands by the Allies.
King Willem-Alexander opened on september 6 the National Monument Oranjehotel in The Hague.
Princess Margriet and Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven attended the 75th commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem (Operation Market Garden) on September 20
Department of Defense
A day later, September 21, Princess Beatrix, together with among other Prince Charles, among others, was present by the commemoration of Opertation Market Garden at Airborne Air Landings and Commemoration in Ede
On October 2 Princess Beatrix attended the 75th commemoration of the Putten Raid
In Nieuwdorp Princess Margriet reopened the Liberation Museum Zeeland that has been expanded and redesigned on october 25
Princess Margriet and Prof. dr. Pieter attended the Memorial Day of Canada in Bergen op Zoom on October 27
On October 29 King Willem-Alexander was present at the commemoration 75 years of the liberation of Breda. The king also received the Polish prime minister for this occasion
Department of Defense
On November 27 last year, King Willem-Alexander opened the renovated memorial center of National Monument Camp Vught.
Princess Beatrix attended a symposium of the interfaith network In Vrijheid Verbond with the theme “75 years of freedom” on January 20 in Tivoli Vredenburg in Utrecht.
On January 27, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima attended the international commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the former German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Earlier that month King Willem-Alexander visited Israel in the context of 75 years of liberation. He attended The World Holocaust Forum. This forum was held for the fifth time to commemorate the Holocaust and bring anti-Semitism worldwide under attention. He also visited Yad Vashem’s museum and visited the Dutch care home Beth Juliana