In collaboration with the municipality of Wageningen, National Committee 4 & 5 May, and Wageningen45, we cherish 80 years of freedom with a special program. On May 5, 2025, starting at 10:30 AM, the start of the National Celebration of Liberation at the 5 May Square will be broadcast live by NOS on NPO 1.
National Commemoration of the 1945 Capitulations
During the National Commemoration of the 1945 Capitulations, the liberation of the Netherlands will be commemorated. Minister of Defense Brekelmans, the Inspector General of the Armed Forces, Prof. Mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven, military attachés, ambassadors, and dozens of (international) WWII veterans will be present. During this ceremony, with recognizable flag ceremonies and flypast - and ceremonial flight of a group airplanes -, the Ode to the Veterans will return. Secondary school students have been asked to write thank-you letters to living WWII veterans. This way, we make post-war generations aware of the value of freedom.
May 5 Lecture
On Liberation Day, the May 5 lecture will be given by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. In the 1990s, Tusk was a member of parliament and vice-chairman of the Polish Senate. In 2001, he was one of the initiators for the establishment of a new centrist party, of which he became the leader in 2003. In 2007, he became Prime Minister of Poland. He held this office for 7 years, making him the longest-serving Prime Minister of democratic Poland. In 2023, he was re-elected as Prime Minister. Since the beginning of this year, Tusk has been the President of the European Union on behalf of Poland for six months.
The lecture will be broadcast starting at 12:00 PM by NOS on NPO1.
Freedom Parade
On May 5, 2025, we honor WWII veterans and emphasize international military cooperation since 1945 during the Freedom Parade. To this day, we protect peace and security with our international partners. This is made visible in the Freedom Parade with the participation of foreign military detachments from: Canada, Germany, France, Greece, Hungary, Norway, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In addition to the (international) WWII veterans, the foreign military detachments of active service members will participate in the Freedom Parade, with a total of 2,500 participants.
Lighting Liberation Fire by Prime Minister Schoof
Subsequently, Prime Minister Schoof will light the Liberation Fire on the main stage of the Liberation Festival Gelderland. This officially opens the 14 Liberation Festivals spread across the country. The lighting of the Liberation Fire concludes the live broadcast by NOS on NPO1.
Liberation Festival Gelderland
After the National Start of the Liberation Festivals with the lighting of the Liberation Fire, the Liberation Festival Gelderland will start. Visit Wageningen45.nl for the complete program and the full line-up of the Liberation Festival featuring artists such as Rondé, Douwe Bob, Roxy Dekker, and many more. With 15 stages, each with its own programming and music style, there is something for everyone: thus, we cherish 80 years of freedom with a large audience!About National Committee Commemoration of the 1945 Capitulations (Wageningen45)
On May 5, 1945, in Wageningen, at Hotel de Wereld, the most recent occupation of the Netherlands came to an end. This earned Wageningen the title City of Freedom. The National Committee Commemoration of the 1945 Capitulations (Wageningen45) thus has the position and opportunity to annually draw worldwide attention to peace, security, and freedom. Because freedom is not a given.