National Remembrance Day 2023 in Zoetermeer: ​​this is the program on May 4

On Thursday 4 May, the Netherlands will commemorate all civilians and soldiers who have died in the Kingdom of the Netherlands or elsewhere in the world since the outbreak of the Second World War, in war situations and during peacekeeping missions. We also commemorate in Zoetermeer and there is a special program for Zoetermeer residents.

On May 4, there is traditionally the silent procession through the Dorpsstraat and the memorial service at the War Memorial in the Wilhelmina Park. Afterwards you can visit a free theater performance by Zoetermeer youth in the Stadstheater. Read the full program below:

Silent journey in the Dorpsstraat

The silent tour will start at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday evening, May 4. The starting point is the Nicolaaskerk at Dorpsstraat 24. You can walk along with mayor Michel Bezuijen, drummers from music association Kunst en Vriendschap and members of the scouting group John McCormick, members of the Contact Old Marines and an envoy from the American embassy. We know from experience an impressive experience!

Memorial service

The silent tour ends at the Wilhelmina Park. Here is the War Memorial where the memorial service starts at 8 p.m. This starts with two minutes of silence, after which wreaths and flowers are laid at the monument. Then the mayor gives a speech. A pupil of IKC de Springplank reads the winning poem of the National Committee 4 and 5 May. Afterwards there is an opportunity to walk past the monument and possibly lay flowers yourself.

Depending on the weather, a number of aircraft from the Rotterdam Aero Club (RAC) fly over the Wilhelminapark. One of the planes gives a salute, in tribute to the fallen and killed
kites.

To the theater

On 4 May at 21:00 there will be more than a hundred performances throughout the Netherlands on the subject of the Second World War. You can watch the performance ‘A good answer’ in the Stadstheater. In this Zoetermeer theater performance, they talk about their research into the history of Zoetermeer during the Second World War. The same performance can also be seen on Friday 5 May at 2 p.m. Purchase here tickets at 7.50 euros per person.

Read the program further under the post>