On Saturday, the Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Prime Minister Mark Rutte, along with around 4,000 other people, gathered on Amsterdam’s central Dam square for the country’s annual World War Two remembrance ceremony. Despite concerns about potential protests and security risks related to the war in Gaza, the ceremony proceeded smoothly. The event took place on Amsterdam’s central Dam square where a two-minute silence was observed at 8 p.m. to honor the victims of World War Two.
Unprecedented measures were implemented this year to ensure the safety of the event and prevent any disruptions associated with the Israel-Hamas conflict. Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who was attending the opening of the National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam, faced protests from pro-Palestinian demonstrators who expressed their opposition to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
In addition to Amsterdam’s commemoration, every town and city holds its own remembrance ceremony on May 4th with tens of thousands of people participating in these events throughout Netherlands. The country then celebrates its liberation from Nazi occupation on May 5th, marking an important historical milestone in Dutch history.
