Dutch School in London Marks 80 Years of Freedom with Peace Lunch

News item | 03-05-2025 | 19:09

As the Netherlands commemorates 80 years of freedom since the end of World War II, the Dutch primary school in London, De Regenboogschool, organised a special Liberation Peace Lunch on 3 May 2025.

Silke Devlieghere, Deputy Director of De Regenboogschool, emphasised the significance of the initiative.

“By organising this Liberation Peace Lunch, we bring Dutch values of freedom, solidarity, and inclusion to life within our school community in the UK. It is a moment to reflect on our shared history and to teach children the importance of cherishing freedom, wherever you are in the world.”

With over 160 pupils, de Regenboogschool provides Dutch Language and Culture lessons every Saturday for children with at least one Flemish or Dutch parent. The school plays a key role in passing on Dutch heritage and values to the next generation growing up abroad.

Celebrating freedom cannot happen without remembrance

As Reverend Van de Lagemaat reflected in his address, “celebrating 80 years of freedom cannot happen without remembrance. We must continue to tell the stories of what war and a lack of freedom can do to people, and how these experiences stay with them for a lifetime.” He quoted the Dutch poet Leo Vroman: “Come this evening with stories about how the war disappeared, and repeat them a hundred times, every time I will weep.”

Throughout the day, pupils from different age groups took part in dedicated lessons. The youngest children listened to a story told by Reverend Bertjan van de Lagemaat, while older pupils and secondary students engaged in personal conversations with Dutch military veterans. 

Freedom is not self-evident

One of the most important goals of the day was to expand the children’s understanding of May 4th. Through dialogue with the veterans, pupils learned that since World War II, conflicts have continued to affect millions of lives worldwide. In this way, they came to understand that the 4th May is not only a day to reflect on World War II in the Netherlands but a day of remembrance for all those who suffer because of war and oppression. Following these conversations, the children expressed their reflections through creative projects, including drawings, poems, postcards, and pieces of art. In doing so, they gave voice to their own understanding of peace and freedom. Veterans reminded students that freedom is not a given; it must be protected and understood. Captain Rick Ongering, the highest-ranking Dutch military representative in the UK, underlined this message:
 

Freedom is not self-evident, certainly not today. That is why it is so important for the new generation to understand that freedom is a hard-won achievement.

Dialogue with veterans

The veterans spoke about their deployments in global conflict zones such as Srebrenica, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Their stories offered powerful insights into the ongoing realities of war, even decades after World War II. In particular, veterans Arthur Batalona, Sander van Hees and Stefan Klabbers led interactive sessions with the children.

Sander showed a photograph of himself alongside a 104-year-old World War II veteran. “This gentleman next to me in the photo is 104 years old,” he said. “He fought as a soldier.” This sparked a wave of curiosity among the children, with questions like “When was he born?” and comments such as “He must have been very young during the war.”

Stefan Klabbers shared a more personal perspective, drawing from his deployment in the Afghan province of Uruzgan. He explained how Dutch forces were active in Deh Rawod and Tarin Kowt, where they collaborated with British troops. Both veterans reflected positively on the experience. “The children listened with great interest,” they said. “It’s important that they remember not only World War II, but also all other military missions. They were not yet familiar with the work we do, which makes events like this so valuable.”

Join us at Mill Hill Cemetery on the 4th of May at 7 pm

The Dutch Embassy invites all members of the Dutch community and friends of the Netherlands to attend the annual National Remembrance Ceremony at the Netherlands Field of Honour in Mill Hill Cemetery, London, on Sunday 4 May 2025, from 19:00 to 20:20.

Pupils from De Regenboogschool will read their own poems, offering personal reflections on freedom and remembrance. Guests are welcome to place a tulip on one of the graves starting from 19:00. The official ceremony, held in the Dutch language, begins at 19:50. As we pause for two minutes of silence at 20:00, we honour the lives lost in World War II and peacekeeping missions thereafter around the world.

Let us come together as a community to commemorate, reflect, and reaffirm our shared commitment to peace and freedom. More information & directions can be found here.