News item | 20-06-2022 | 11:30
His Majesty the King and Prime Minister Rutte will attend the Dutch Veterans Day on Saturday 25 June in The Hague, a tribute to the more than 100,000 Dutch veterans. The King delivers a speech and hands out eighteen banner inscriptions to units of the Armed Forces that distinguished themselves during the battle in Afghanistan. He also takes the parade. Prime Minister Rutte gives a speech in the Koninklijke Schouwburg.
The day starts with a ceremony in the Koninklijke Schouwburg, where veterans tell special personal stories, in combination with music and film images. The ceremony will conclude with a speech by the Prime Minister. Afterwards, the King speaks with a number of veterans.
The banner inscriptions will then be awarded on the Hofvijver. The King awarded eighteen cravats to sixteen units of the Royal Netherlands Army, one to the Marine Corps and one to the Royal Air Force. A banner is the flag of a unit, awarded by a Dutch monarch. Today it is a symbolic meaning of loyalty, unity and sense of honour. The banner bears the stylized letter of the monarch’s name. The King and Defense Minister Ollongren will give a speech at the ceremony.
In the afternoon, King Willem-Alexander will take part in the parade on the Kneuterdijk, in which more than a hundred detachments will take part. At the front of the parade are the eighteen detachments that had recently received a cravate from the King, followed by detachments of veterans and active-serving soldiers from all branches of the armed forces.
Public activities take place on the Malieveld throughout the day.
Veterans Day is a tribute to all veterans – from World War II to today’s missions – who have committed themselves in the service of peace. The aim is to promote social recognition and appreciation for veterans. The Dutch Veterans Day was established by the government and is organized by the National Veterans Day Committee, with the support of the Ministry of Defense and civil society partners.