Remembrance Day on May 4 and Liberation Day on May 5 are still considered to be important events by the majority of the Dutch population, with 85% in particular backing events to remember those killed in World War II and later conflicts.

As a national event, May 4 is also ranked higher than King’s Day and major sports occasions, according to new research carried out by the Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei, which organises the commemorations.

Nevertheless, the number of people who say they feel at home in the Netherlands has gone down from 87% in 2021 to 82% this year.  At the same time, the percentage who feel they have to contribute to society has gone down from 41% to 35% and just 17% of those in the survey said they felt they could have an influence.

The survey also shows that a growing number of people think that all Dutch WWII victims and those who have died in war and peacekeeping operations since then should be honoured on May 5.

In addition, 59% now think that other wars should also be included in the commemorations, up from 53% last year. And a clear majority support changing the name from Liberation Day to Day of Freedom, to place more emphasis on democracy and human rights.

A large majority – 70% – also say that May 5 should be a public holiday. Currently May 5 is only an official day off once every five years.

The Netherlands will fall silent for two minutes at 8pm on Thursday night, as the country remembers the Dutch who died in World War II and in subsequent conflicts.

Trains and cars will come to a halt and there are no take-offs and landings at Schiphol airport during two minutes’ silence, which takes place at 8pm. Shops and supermarkets are required by law to close at 7pm, and bars and restaurants warn their clients that the music will stop for a short period of reflection.

The main ceremony, at the Dam war memorial in the centre of Amsterdam, attracts thousands of people. King Willem-Alexander and queen Maxima will lay a wreath at the war memorial, along with survivors of WWII, members of the armed forces and family members of those who died.

The Netherlands will fall silent for two minutes on May 4: this is why

As well as the main event, which is televisied, there will be hundreds of other ceremonies all over the country to mark different war-related events. Find an event near you.

Celebrations

On Friday, May 5, the Netherlands celebrates its liberation with festivals and events nationwide. Find a festival near you.

The celebrations start in Wageningen around midnight where the Liberation flame is lit and torches are then taken by 1,300 runners in relay to other fires all over the country. Germany signed the capitulation documents in Wageningen on May 5, 1945. The south of the country had been liberated months earlier.

A relatively new addition to the day are the ‘freedom meals’, held at a wide variety of locations nationwide and with a special ‘freedom soup’ on the menu.

The celebrations will end with the traditional May 5 concert on the Amstel river in Amsterdam, which will broadcast live on television and attended by king Willem-Alexander and queen Máxima.