Remembrance and Liberation Days in the Netherlands

Queen Beatrix, the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima have spent the past two days marking the Netherlands’ Remembrance and Liberation Days, held each year on May 4th and 5th, respectively.

Accompanied by Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, the royals attended a service in the Nieuwe Kerk. The Queen and Prince of Orange then laid wreaths on the National Monument, before two minutes silence was taken. During the two minutes silence, a man began screaming causing a panic in the crowd of thousands which had gathered. People began rushing away, knocking over a safety barrier (the noise caused even more panic). Several people were injured in the scuffle. (See video.)

Queen Beatrix, Prince Willem-Alexander, Princess Máxima and the Prime Minister were all quickly escorted from the Square into a secured gate close to the National Monument. They returned about five minutes later, after calm had been restored and the police had arrested the man, to carry out the remainder of the ceremony, as per the Queen’s wishes. The Dutch National Anthem (Het Wilhelmus) was played, concluding the ceremony. Before returning to their homes, the royal family visited some of the people injured at the Groote Club.

Earlier today, May 5th, Queen Beatrix attended the Liberation Day Concert on the Amstel River. The concert is held each year to mark the closing of the Liberation Day celebrations. May 5th marks the day that the Netherlands was liberated from the Nazis after World War II.

Filed under The Netherlands
Tagged King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, Liberation Day, Prime Minister Balkenende of the Netherlands, Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, Remembrance Day, Security, World War II.

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