The celebration of 450 years of Alkmaar Relief in 2023 will not go unnoticed. Plans are already being made for a great festive year. “Together with all Alkmaarders”, said mayor Anja Schouten. Ideas are therefore collected for the Jubilee about how the Relief can be celebrated and commemorated throughout the year.
In 1573 Alkmaar was the first to resist the Spanish occupier. ‘Van Alkmaar de Victorie’ is the well-known slogan of that victory on 8 October. There will be a lot of unpacking for the anniversary next year. The municipality wants to reserve 450,000 euros for this.
But the mayor does not yet know exactly what the festive year will look like. “That will also arise from these kinds of brainstorming evenings. Last week we asked residents for ideas. Now we are sparring with ninety entrepreneurs, foundations and organizations.”
According to Mayor Schouten, it is about celebrating and commemorating. “There is often a romantic image of Relief. Of course we also won, but in fact it was a horrific civil war in which very important values were fought for: freedom, tolerance, diversity and solidarity. Those four are still just as valuable today. “
Celebrated on Saturday
“The program around October 8 next year will be largely similar to the previous Relief celebrations, except that we will keep it on Saturday October 7 because of the Sunday. But it will all be bigger because of the anniversary.”
“It will also be Big Window unveiled in the Grote Kerk: a new fantastic stained glass window for which we are all saving money. There will be a museum night, a tear-off calendar, and a new piece of music will be composed for concert band Soli Dea Gloria, which will have its world premiere during Ontzet.”
Willem Alexander
When asked whether the king will visit Alkmaar during the anniversary, the mayor is still shrouded in mystery. His predecessors all did that on previous anniversaries. King Willem III was there for the 300th anniversary of the Relief, Wilhelmina 50 years later and Juliana for the 400th anniversary.
“We would be very honored, and he is most welcome.” Anja Schouten will leave it at that for now, although she agrees that it would be the icing on the cake. The Jubilee year begins immediately after the celebration of Relief on October 8 this year. After the summer, the first concrete ideas for the celebration will be announced.
Committee
A committee has been set up for the organization of the Jubilee Year, which includes the municipality, Alkmaar Marketing, cultural institutions and the 8 October Vereeniging. Ideas are still welcome, go to the website of Alkmaar Relief 450 years†
A budget of 450,000 euros has been budgeted for the festivities, with the city council still needing to approve that amount.