Learn all about Liberation Day
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| Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in the Netherlands Series at DutchPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Dutch holidays and observances. I’m Eric, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 9 - Liberation Day. In Dutch, this is [Bevrijdingsdag] |
| Liberation Day in the Netherlands is celebrated each year on May 5th. On this day, the Dutch people celebrate the country’s liberation from Nazi Germany in 1945. On the same day, they also celebrate the liberation of the then Dutch East Indies. On May 5th, Dutch people remind of the great value of freedom, democracy, and human rights. |
| In this lesson, we will cover the ins and outs of Dutch Liberation Day traditions. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question? |
| Do you know of any other day that the Celebrate Liberty Streamer, or [Vier Vrijheid-wimpel], can be flown alongside the Dutch flag? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening. |
| Liberation Day always starts with a substantive early morning agenda. This National Liberation Day Kick-Off, or [Start Nationale Viering van Bevrijding], is held in a different province every year. These events form the segue between Dutch Memorial Day on May 4 and the festivities on May 5. A prominent Dutchman, such as the prime minister, or [minister-president], gives a May 5 speech on the central theme of the year. After that, the Liberation Flame is lit, signaling that all Liberation Day festivals and other celebrations in the country can begin. |
| World War II, or [Tweede Wereldoorlog], ended in 1945, with the German occupation of the Netherlands and surrounding countries ending on May 5 of that year. The capitulation of Germany, or [Duitsland], was signed on that day at the [Hotel De Wereld] in the town of [Wageningen], thereby liberating the Netherlands. Many of those who lived through the war are already old or deceased. Every year, there are fewer and fewer people in the Netherlands who can truly remember the war. Even so, the modern Dutch people consider it very important to remember those who died and celebrate our freedom, and do so on National Liberation Day. |
| On this day, the Dutch flag, or [Nederlandse vlag], flies at full mast from sunrise to sunset. The flag of the Netherlands is made of three horizontal stripes, colored red, white and blue. On National Liberation Day, however, a special flag is flown, one that displays the Dutch “Celebrate Liberty Streamer,” or [Vier Vrijheid-wimpel]. This streamer has a red and blue logo of a lit torch with the liberty flame and the words [Vier Vrijheid], meaning “Celebrate Freedom.” Since this day is a national celebration, other flags are also flown, such as provincial flags, city flags, flags from Dutch territories in the Caribbean, and flags from other countries. |
| Thirteen liberation festivals are organized each year to celebrate National Liberation Day. Well-known Dutchmen are designated “Ambassadors of liberty,” or [Ambassadeurs van de Vrijheid], and are transported by helicopter to the Liberation Day festivals. They make appearances all day and lead awareness campaigns under the motto “freedom we all make together,” or In Dutch [“vrijheid maak je met elkaar”] |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| Do you know of any other day on which the “Celebrate Liberty Streamer” can be flown alongside the Dutch flag? |
| Besides Liberation Day, Dutch people use this streamer on August 15. The date marks the celebration of the end of World War II in the former Dutch East Indies. |
| What did you think of this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting? |
| How do people memorialize war victims and those who died for your country? |
| Leave us your comments on DutchPod101.com, and we'll see you in the next lesson. |
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