National Commemoration, Sunday May 4
King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, and Prime Minister Schoof will be present at the memorial meeting in De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, where Philip Freriks will deliver the May 4 speech. Subsequently, the Royal Couple will lay a wreath at the National Monument on the Dam. On behalf of the Council of Ministers, a wreath will be laid by the Prime Minister, Minister Brekelmans of Defense, Secretary of State Karremans of Health, Welfare, and Sport, and the representatives of Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten, respectively, Thijsen, Manuel, and Arrindell. Prime Minister Schoof will give a speech.
National Celebration of Liberation, Monday May 5
Prime Minister Schoof, Minister Brekelmans, and Secretary of State Karremans will be present in Wageningen for the start of the National Celebration of Liberation. The May 5 lecture will be given by Polish Prime Minister Tusk. Subsequently, Prime Minister Schoof will light the Liberation Fire together with the Ambassador of Freedom RONDÉ at the Liberation Festival in Wageningen. This marks the start of the fourteen Liberation Festivals taking place at various locations across the country.
The Royal Couple, Prime Minister Schoof, Secretary of State Karremans, and the representatives of Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten will attend the May 5 concert in Amsterdam that evening to mark the conclusion of the National Celebration of Liberation. The concert traditionally takes place on and around the Amstel in front of the Royal Theater Carré.
The overarching theme for all commemorations and celebrations this year is ‘80 years of freedom’.
