Calls are growing for May 5 to be made a public holiday to mark the liberation of the Netherlands from Nazi occupation, but the cabinet has said it will not legislate.

Around one-third of workers were given the day off last year, up from 27% in 2022, as more employers and sectors specify a day off in their collective bargaining agreements.

The proportion will be higher for the 80th anniversary this year, as many companies follow the guidance of the Dutch Labour Foundation (Stichting voor de Arbeid) to give their workers a paid day off on May 5 every five years.

A majority of MPs backed a call by NSC’s Diederik Boomsma to make Liberation Day a public holiday – but the suggestion was rebuffed by his party colleague, social affairs minister Eddy van Hijum.

“I think these kinds of rituals that bring people together are important, especially in these times of polarisation and war,” Boomsma told AD.nl. “Freedom is something we all share and should be grateful for.”

Van Hijum said in a letter to parliament that he agreed that May 5 should be a day to recognise the “values of freedom and democracy”, but the decision on whether to give workers the day off should be made by companies.

Some employers’ organisations, such as VNO-NCW and MKB Nederland, have suggested swapping May 5 for Whit Monday, while others have said the government should compensate employers if it makes Liberation Day a holiday.

Boomsma said: “That’s something we should look at, but hopefully it won’t come to that. The main thing is we really want to make it a holiday.”