Bevrijdingsdag, often known as Liberation Day, is observed on May 5 in the Netherlands. It honored the occasion when the Allies freed the Dutch from Nazi rule.
On May 10, 1940, Nazi Germany began to occupy the Netherlands. The Dutch military was forced to submit four days later after Rotterdam was bombarded.
The nation wasn’t fully liberated until five years later, in 1945, mostly because of Canadian forces. The Dutch opted to observe May 5 as Liberation Day right after the war.
1. Celebrating freedom
In the Netherlands, National Remembrance Day, which is observed annually on May 4th, is followed by Liberation Day. The Netherlands will have two days to remember and celebrate as a result.
Bevrijdingingsdag has shifted its focus in recent years from commemorating the conclusion of World War II to more generally honoring freedom.
Many people, and younger generations in particular, have never experienced life in a country without freedom. Liberation Day serves as a reminder to never take freedom for granted and a time to appreciate everything that living in a free society has to offer.
The Netherlands celebrates Liberation Day with parades, concerts, and displays of military artifacts.
In the Netherlands, Liberation Day is only observed as a public holiday once every five years (the following one will be in 2025). Many businesses will close during that year, and public transportation will either not run or run on a different schedule.
However, whether May 5 should be a holiday every year is a subject of some discussion.
2. Netherlands Liberation Day celebrations and events
As a day that commemorates freedom in the Netherlands, Liberation Day is widely observed. This is particularly true when it is a public holiday because most people receive the day off work to fully appreciate the festivities.
The Prime Minister often kicks off Liberation Day celebrations, starting the festivities from a different region each year. The official start of the events, which include free festivals taking place in more than 14 cities throughout the nation, is marked by a squad of about 5000 runners carrying a flame to 200 towns throughout the Netherlands.
Here are a few more festivals worth mentioning in addition to the Bevrijdingsfestivals taking place all over the nation. There are activities for everyone throughout the Netherlands, no matter where you live!
- Bevrijdingspop
- Ontsnapte Klanken
- Dance4Liberation
- Het Amsterdams Verbond
- Liberté Liberté
- Fluff Disco Bevrijdingsfestival
