On May 4, we commemorate the victims of World War II and other war situations in Maastricht. We do this in various places in the city. On May 5, we celebrate the liberation of the Netherlands in 1945. We celebrate this in Maastricht at Koningsplein. Where you can join to commemorate or celebrate is listed on this page.
Commemoration on May 4
On May 4, you can commemorate war victims at the following locations:
Mariaberg
4:00 PM: Commemoration of 25 dead and 125 injured from the Blauwdorp bombing. There is a gathering at the memorial plaque of the bombing at Gildenweg-Ambachtsweg. Alderman Manon Fokke warmly welcomes you here along with a number of speakers from Mariaberg. After that, you will walk together with Fanfare Sint Servatius along the Blue Carpet to the Sint Theresiakerk. A commemoration begins there at 4:45 PM. Afterwards, there will be another gathering in the garden.
Center
6:30 PM: a service for everyone in the Sint Servaas Basilica. After the service, you will walk in a silent procession to the Commemoration Square. Around 7:30 PM, Mayor Wim Hillenaar and Governor Emile Roemer will speak. Afterwards, they and others will lay a wreath.
Heer
In Heer, a silent procession starts at 7:40 PM from the church in Heer to the Raadhuisplein. At 8:00 PM, there will be 2 minutes of silence. Alderman Hubert Mackus will then give a speech. After the speech, you can lay roses at the monument of Appie Drielsma. At 8:35 PM, coffee, tea, and pie will be ready in the canteen of RKSV Heer.
Celebration on May 5
Koningsplein
A group of relay runners from Wageningen brings the liberation fire to Maastricht on May 5. You can join the last 700 meters from De Geusselt. They will arrive around 6:00 PM. At 6:15 PM, they will hand over the torch with the liberation fire to Mayor Wim Hillenaar. He will light the liberation fire at the monument at Koningsplein with the torch. The mayor and a number of other attendees will give a speech. The gathering will last until 6:40 PM.