The National Commemoration 15 August 1945 attracted 527,000 viewers on Monday evening. The commemoration, in which all victims of the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies during the Second World War are commemorated, was broadcast on NPO1 at 7 p.m.
The registration of the commemoration, in which actor Beau Schneider spoke and Prime Minister Mark Rutte laid a wreath, took an hour. Indonesia played a prominent role in the commemoration for the first time this year. The country’s ambassador also laid a wreath.
In previous years, the commemoration took place in the afternoon. This year the commemoration has been moved to the evening. People who could not be present in the evening could already gather in the afternoon and lay flowers on the field.