Remembrance and Liberation Day: May 4 and 5, 2004-2024


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Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven attended the annual meeting and parade on the occasion of the 1945 National Capitulation Remembrance in Wageningen today, May 5:


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And King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima this evening at the May 5 concert in Amsterdam, the conclusion of the National Celebration of Liberation:


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According Delpher - the database of Dutch newspapers, the young princesses Beatrix and Irene joined their parents in a specifial service in the Great- or Saint James' Church in The Hague in 1955. In that year the Netherlands celebrated 10 years of Liberation.

In the years after the princesses Beatrix and Irene joined their parents for a Remembrance in Baarn (the municipality where Soestdijk Palace is located). Back then the wreath laying at the National Monument (the Queen and the Prince only) was at Noon. It was tradition to do the Remembrance at 20 o'clock in the own hometown.

Interesting, in those years Princess Wilhelmina also did attend Remembrances but in most articles is stated that her Dame du Palais, Henriette de Savornin-Lohman van Hasselt and her Particulier Secretaresse Jeanette Geldens layed a wreath on behalf of the Princess, while she remained seated in a car and looked on.

In 1966 the freshly married Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus did attend the Remembrance in Baarn. They lived at Drakensteyn Estate so it was in their own municipality. Princess Irene was no longer in the Royal House. For the first time Princess Margriet did attend a Remembrance as well: together with her fiancé Pieter van Vollenhoven she was in the dunes near The Hague where the Nazis executed (murdered) hundreds of people.

In 1970 the Remembrance was in The Hague: 25 years of Liberation. The Queen, the Prince, Princess Beatrix, Prince Claus, Princess Margriet and Pieter van Vollenhoven were at a apecial solemn Act in the Hall of Knights. Also then, as usual, the wreath laying in Amsterdam was at Noon: the Queen and the Prince only.

In 1976 Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus were travelling in Israel at 4 and 5 May.

In 1980 was the first wreath laying by Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus. Now at 16.00 o'clock in the afternoon. It was 4 days after the worst riots Amsterdam has seen, at Investiture Day 1980.

In the 1980's the public attendance was rapidly declining. The National Committee 4 and 5 May moved the National Remembrance to 20.00 o'clock in 1988. And it came on live television (before that it was only on radio !). With success: Dam Square is always packed.

Because of the illness of Prince Claus, the Prince of Orange used to escort the Queen. Princess Beatrix herself did attend the last Remembrance of Queen Juliana in 1979. So apparently it is not at all tradition that other members of the Royal House do attend the National Remembrance.
 
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Princess Margriet attended the commemoration at the National Merchant Marine Monument 'De Boeg' in Rotterdam this morning:


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And King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima were present at the National Commemoration on Dam Square in Amsterdam:


** ppe gallery ** anp gallery ** anp gallery 2 ** rex gallery ** gettyimages gallery **



Princess Margriet and Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven together with Prince Pieter-Christiaan attended the National Military Remembrance Day at the Military Field of Honor Grebbeberg in Rhenen:


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Princess Margriet looked very moved during the ceremony :previous:
 
Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven attended the annual meeting in Wageningen on the occasion of the National Remembrance Capitulations 1945 today, May 5:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** anp gallery **


King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima attended the May 5 concert in Amsterdam, the conclusion of the National Celebration of Liberation, this evening:


** ppe gallery ** anp gallery ** rex gallery **
 
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This year people that want to be present at the Dam Square will need to register in advance. Because of the volatile state the world is in related to the conflict in the Middle East, they are taking additional measure to ensure people's safety, including reducing the number of people from 20.000 to 10.000 and frisking at the entrance. 15 years ago someone shouted during the minutes of silence and the royal family was hastily removed from the Dam (this was a few days after the attack on the royal family on Queen's day). They are worried that something similar might happen this year.

 
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Its simply quite disgraceful that certain thuggish elements of society have no respect for solemn events such as the National Celebrations of Remembrance and Liberation!
 
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima were present at the National Commemoration on Dam Square in Amsterdam today, May 4.

** gettyimages gallery ** ppe gallery **

** robinutrecht.photoshelter.com gallery ** anp gallery 1 ** anp gallery 2 **



Princess Margriet and Prince Pieter-Christiaan together with Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven attended the National Military Remembrance Day at the Military Field of Honor Grebbeberg in Rhenen:



 
Only 3000 people were allowed on Dam square due to fears of activists abusing this remembrance for other subjects. Several people turned their backs to the chairman of the 2nd chamber, member of the extreme right party of Geert Wilders, who has expressed antisemite views in the past. Parts of press seem disappointed everything went well, without any disturbances.
 
Only 3000 people were allowed on Dam square due to fears of activists abusing this remembrance for other subjects. Several people turned their backs to the chairman of the 2nd chamber, member of the extreme right party of Geert Wilders, who has expressed antisemite views in the past. Parts of press seem disappointed everything went well, without any disturbances.
10.000 people were allowed but probably due to the rain only about 4400 showed up.
 
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