THE NETHERLANDS – Over 20 thousand people are expected to attend the National Commemoration of Remembrance Day in Amsterdam on Saturday evening. Attendees include King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
On May 4th the Netherlands remembers the victims of the Second World War. In addition to the National Commemoration, municipalities throughout the Netherlands also hold their own commemorations. A total of 40 commemorations will be held in Amsterdam. Information on that can be found here.
The National Commemoration in Amsterdam consists of a memorial meeting in De Nieuwe Kerk for survivors of the Second World War, relatives and representatives of war organizations, followed by the memorial service at the National Monument on Dam Square, which is open to everyone.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima will attend the memorial meeting in De Nieuwe Kerk, and lay a wreath at the National Monument on Dam Square during the memorial service. Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Minister Ank Bijleveld of Defense, State Secretary Paul Blokhuis of Public Health, and Ministers from Curacao, Aruba and Sint Maarten will also lay a wreath on behalf of the Council of Ministers. The wreath laying will happen just before 8:00 p.m., followed by 2 minutes of silence.
Theater maker and writer Diederik van Vleuten will speak at the meeting in De Nieuwe Kerk. Mayor Femke Halsema of Amsterdam will speak during the commemoration on Dam Square.
Before the ceremony on Dam Square, mayor Halsema and children form an Amsterdam primary school will participate in a silent march from Stadhuisplein to the ceremony on Dam Square. Everyone is welcome to participate in the silent march, which will start at around 6:00 p.m.
The meeting in De Nieuwe Kerk will be broadcast live on NPO1 from 6:45 p.m. The National Commemoration will be broadcast live on NPO 1, 2 and 3 from 7:45 p.m.
