This year’s celebration is especially poignant. With Europe facing renewed geopolitical tensions, the anniversary is both a commemoration of the past and a call to safeguard democracy and human rights for future generations.
National Celebration Kicks Off with Polish Prime Minister
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will deliver the annual Fifth of May Lecture, which officially opens the day’s events. His presence underscores Poland’s crucial yet often underappreciated role in the liberation of the Netherlands. Polish units, including the 1st Polish Armoured Division under General Maczek and the 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade led by General Sosabowski, played key roles in the battles for Breda and near Driel during Operation Market Garden.

Freedom Meals, Festivals and Concerts Across the Country
Hundreds of Freedom Meals are taking place in communities across the Netherlands, bringing people together to share stories and reflect on what freedom means. At 14 locations, Liberation Festivals feature performances, debates, and tributes to both past and present struggles for freedom.

A group of well-known Dutch artists, the Ambassadors of Freedom, will travel to several festivals by helicopter to perform and engage with visitors. The day concludes with the traditional Fifth of May Concert in Amsterdam, broadcast live and attended by members of the royal family.

Reflecting on 80 Years of Freedom
As the Netherlands marks this historic milestone, the National Committee for 4 and 5 May emphasises the importance of remembrance. “Freedom cannot be taken for granted,” the committee stated. “It must be maintained and protected, especially in times of uncertainty.”

Gabriella Sancisi, Director of Protocol and Host Country Affairs, recognizes the importance of reflecting on historic sacrifices.

“As we mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War, we honour the courage and sacrifices of those who gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy today. The legacy of that struggle lives on, in the values we uphold, the rights we protect, and the international partnerships we nurture here in the Netherlands.”

Freedom as legacy and responsibility
The war’s impact is still felt today, in families, in public life, and in the country’s commitment to international peace and justice. The Netherlands continues to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law through institutions like the United Nations and NATO, and as host to international courts in The Hague.

Sancisi knows how fundamental ensuring security and freedom is for the work of the international community. “At the Protocol and Host Country Affairs Department, we remain committed to fostering a safe and dignified environment for the diplomatic and international community, as we work together toward a world grounded in peace, justice, and the rule of law.”

For many, this 80th anniversary is a reminder that the legacy of the Second World War is not just about the past, it is a lesson for the present, and a responsibility for the future. Conflict and oppression continue in many parts of the world today. Freedom is never guaranteed; it must be safeguarded through daily actions, by protecting democracy, upholding the rights of others, and ensuring that history’s lessons are not forgotten.