Liberation pop festival De Brink Obdam is this year called Festival Obdam for Ukraine. The organization found a festival as it is normally held to be inappropriate at the moment. “With Ukraine in mind, you think: this is not a liberation festival. The misery is so great there,” says organizer Nico Klijn.
Live music will still be played at the festival. Klijn: “We put up a big bus and ask people to donate something. Take one less beer and put it in the pot.”
The proceeds of the festival will go to the Caritas Ukraine Foundation from De Rijp. This organization has a warehouse in Hensbroek and periodically organizes transports with relief supplies to Ukraine.
Attention to freedom
The Liberation Festival in Alkmaar is also aware of the situation, but later makes a choice about the character of the party. “Freedom needs attention anyway,” says one employee.
The Haarlem liberation festival also emphasizes that they want to draw attention to freedom, because that is not self-evident. “Unfortunately, now also in Europe where Putin is trying to destroy Ukraine and all fundamental rights” that we cherish slaps his boot † according to organizer and former mayor of Haarlem, Bernt Schneiders.
Attention will therefore be paid to the situation, but the Haarlem festival will not be an action day for Ukraine.