News of: Saturday, May 04 2013,
On May 4, the victims of the Second World War (and all subsequent wars) are commemorated throughout the Netherlands.
May 5 is Liberation Day: on May 5 1945, the German Nazi regime capitulated, and Holland was officially liberated.
The main national ceremony for the May 4 commemoration takes place on Dam Square.
This year is the first time that not Queen Beatrix lays the wreath, but the new King Willem-Alexander, who was inaugurated on April 30, together with his wife Queen Máxima.
The ceremony on Dam Square starts at half past 7 and is accessible for everyone. At 7.58pm, the King and Queen lay a wreath at the National Monument on Dam Square.
At 8pm there is a (nation-wide) two minutes' silence. Traditionally, this is also observed in bars and pubs, where the music stops for 2 minutes (but not observed everywhere), and traffic will partly come to a standstill.
After the 2 minutes' silence there are some speeches, and more wreath-layings, by many organizations.
The entire ceremony is also broadcast live on national tv.
May 5, Liberation Day
May 5 is celebrated as Liberation Day.
The main event of that day is the free open-air concert on the river Amstel, near the Carré Theater, a few minutes walk from the City Hall along the Amstel.
The concert starts at 9pm. If you would like to attend, it is advisable to come early, to secure a good place.
There will be hundreds of boats in the river Amstel.
The King and Queen will attend the concert. They will arrive and leave by boat.
During the day, the main liberation concerts will take place in Westerpark, where there will be various performances on a number of stages.
Freely accessible, from 11am until 11pm.
Flags
On May 4 the Dutch flag will be flown half-mast on official buildings. On May 5 the flag will be flown normally.
National Monument on Dam Square
