News item | 20-04-2022 | 12:16
King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and Prime Minister Rutte will attend the National Commemoration on Dam Square in Amsterdam on Wednesday evening, May 4. The Prime Minister will attend the May 5 lecture in Oss on Thursday 5 May. He then ignites the Liberation Fire in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. That evening, the Royal Couple and the Prime Minister attend the May 5 concert in Amsterdam, the conclusion of the National Celebration of Liberation. For the first time since the outbreak of the corona pandemic, the commemoration and celebration will take place again in regular form.
National Commemoration on Wednesday 4 May
King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and Prime Minister Rutte are present during the commemoration meeting in De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, where Hans Goedkoop delivers the May 4 lecture. Afterwards, the Royal Couple will lay a wreath at the National Monument on Dam Square. On behalf of the Kingdom Council of Ministers, a wreath is laid by the Prime Minister, Minister Ollongren of Defence, State Secretary Van Ooijen of Health, Welfare and Sport and the plenipotentiary ministers Besaril, Manuel and Violenus of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten respectively. Mayor Halsema of Amsterdam gives a speech.
National Liberation Celebration on Thursday 5 May
Prime Minister Rutte is present in Oss at the May 5 lecture on the occasion of the National Celebration of the Liberation. The theme of the celebration is Freedom in solidarity. The 5 May lecture will be held by Knight of the Military William Order, Lieutenant Colonel Gijs Tuinman. Subsequently, Prime Minister Rutte ignites the Liberation Fire in ‘s-Hertogenbosch as the starting signal for the 14 Liberation Festivals that take place at various locations in the country.
In the evening, the Royal Couple and Prime Minister Rutte attend the May 5 concert in Amsterdam on the occasion of the closing of the National Celebration of the Liberation. The concert traditionally takes place on and around the Amstel in front of the Royal Theater Carré.