She had clammy hands and a bucket full of nerves, but in the end everything went well. The 16-year-old Loïs Brummel from Eindhoven wore a wreath on Wednesday evening under the watchful eye of millions of Dutch people during the National Remembrance Day in Amsterdam. “It was very exciting. There were a lot of people. I thought: now I really can’t trip.”
A day after the commemoration of the dead, Lois is still very impressed by what she experienced. She was one of the 87 scouts and sea cadets from Brabant who helped during the National Commemoration on Dam Square on 4 May. They hand out wreaths and flowers, hoist flags and traditionally accompany the oldest generation of guests. A big responsibility, as the commemoration is watched by more than six million people. So nothing was left to chance.
“It’s super special to help out.”
“When I heard that I had been selected, they also said that we were going to practice a lot,” says Loïs. “We had a preparation weekend in Someren. There we got to know each other and we received a lot of explanation about who should do what. Later we practiced with fake wreaths at the provincial government house in Den Bosch. It is super special to help.”
According to the Eindhoven scout, there is more to it than you would expect. You have to walk in a certain way, wear the wreath, place it on a holder and then turn away in sync. Next, Lois should stand guard near the wreath.
After many hours of practice, it finally happened last night. The Brabant delegation went to Amsterdam by bus. According to Lois, only in the Nieuwe Kerk in the capital did the tension start to bubble up.
“It can’t go wrong, now I really can’t trip.”
“We listened to speeches and then it was our turn. That was special. Sea Cadet Tristan and I were allowed to wear the ‘royal wreath’ at the very front of the procession. We walked through the church and on Dam Square through a guard of honor. so many people! And you also know that there are a lot of people watching at home. Then I thought: it can’t go wrong, now I really can’t trip.”
But, as so often, practice paid off here: Lois concentrated the large and heaviest wreath with beautiful white flowers flawlessly in the holder. Countless meters away from King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, she watched and there was silence for two minutes at eight o’clock.
“That was perhaps the most special thing: it was very quiet. You only heard birds chirping. That was very impressive. After the commemoration we gave each other a hug, because everything went well. And the reactions are also super nice: everyone is very proud!”
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