On Saturday, October 4, Rotterdam celebrates Veterans Day. The municipality thanks local veterans this year at the Van Ghent Barracks in Kralingen. The day is intended for Rotterdammers who have served as military personnel in a foreign war or peace mission.
Since 2005, a national Veterans Day has been organized. It takes place on the last Saturday of June at the Malieveld in The Hague. On that day, a veterans flag is displayed at the city hall on the Coolsingel.
Many municipalities organize their own Veterans Day for veterans living in their municipality. Rotterdam also does this every year. In this way, the municipality wants to give veterans recognition and appreciation for their efforts in a war or peace mission abroad.
Veteran
A veteran is a (former) military personnel who has served the Netherlands abroad in a war or peace mission. Link opens an external page. Military personnel who went to Afghanistan between 2006 and 2010, for example, served in a war mission. Notable peace missions include those in Lebanon (1979-1985), Bosnia (1992-1995), and Mali (2013-2023).
Mayor Schouten
Approximately 1,500 veterans live in Rotterdam. If their details are in the Veterans Register, they receive an invitation for the Rotterdam Veterans Day by mail from the municipality. Mayor Carola Schouten welcomes the Rotterdam veterans on Saturday at the Van Ghent Barracks. There will also be music, lunch, and space for personal conversations.
No Invitation? Email!
If you are a veteran from Rotterdam and have not received an invitation for the Rotterdam Veterans Day, the chances are that you are not in the Veterans Register.
Would you like to stay informed about the Rotterdam Veterans Day? Email the organization at veteranendag@rotterdam.nl. Link opens an external page.
Veterans Stories
Would you like to know more about the Rotterdam Veterans Day? Then visit the webpage. Link opens an external page.
On the municipalitys website, you can also read stories of Rotterdam veterans. Link opens an external page as well.
