It is painful to see the Dutch flag still hanging upside down. That is what the parents of three killed Brabant soldiers say. Together with relatives of other fallen soldiers, they call on dissatisfied compatriots to straighten the tricolor on 4 and 5 May. “Out of respect for the fallen and war victims.”
People have long been showing their dissatisfaction with the government’s policy on the nitrogen approach by waving the Dutch flag upside down. Since last year they can be found almost everywhere: along highways, meadows and on many houses. After the big win for the BBB in the Provincial Council elections, many of those red, white and blue flags are hanging in the traditional way again. But not everywhere.
Relatives of Dutch soldiers find this painful to see. They write this in an open letter, signed by relatives of fallen soldiers. The parents of the deceased Michael Donkervoort from Veghel, Tom Krist from Berkel-Enschot and Luc Janzen from Tilburg also support that writing. These soldiers died during a mission in Afghanistan.
“Hang the flags right and show your respect.”
For Marianne Krist, Tom’s mother, hanging the flag properly is a sign of respect. “I don’t think we’ve ever had so many flags in the Netherlands as we do now, let’s make something positive out of it,” she says. “Hang the flags right and show your respect.”
The letter contains an emphatic appeal: on 4 and 5 May, raise the red, white and blue flag. “The symbol for peace, freedom, an independent and democratic Netherlands, and out of respect for the fallen and war victims. Do not forget that the war is close by and that our soldiers are willing to risk their lives for us if necessary. To protect all what is dear to us and to you.”
“Our child, parent, partner, sibling came home in a coffin under that same banner.”
“Our child, parent, partner, sibling came home in a coffin under that same flag,” the letter reads. “Lost their lives in the service of the Dutch people. For your peace and democracy. It’s been years, but to us it feels like yesterday.”
In July last year, Marco Kroon from Den Bosch, bearer of the Military William Order, also called for the reversed flags to be properly hung. He called it ‘a direct insult to the thousands of soldiers, civilians, police officers, firefighters and all others who have made the highest sacrifice in the service of the State of the Netherlands’.
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