Ed Dumrese
Contact
National Committee Commemoration Capitulations 1945 Wageningen (NCHC)
Liberation day Committee Wageningen (C45W)
P.O. Box 1
6700 AA Wageningen
The Netherlands
Phone: +31 317 492522
E-mail: 4en5mei@wageningen.nl
For more information:
Commemorate and Celebrate in the 'City of Liberation' Wageningen, The Netherlands.
The two dates that are very important and have a special meaning to many people, are the 4th and 5th of May. On the 4th of May we commemorate those who were lost during the Second World War or any other war. German troops in the Netherlands capitulated to allied forces, releasing these countries from Nazi occupation (which officially ended the Second World War in the Netherlands) on May 5, 1945 and now we celebrate this liberation annually on the 5th of May.
There is an opportunity to commemorate and celebrate all over the Netherlands, but one city that really stands out, is Wageningen. Wageningen is world famous for its military history and has an important historical meaning. The German general Blaskowitz and the Canadian general Charles Foulkes, negotiated the terms of surrender in Hotel de Wereld, which ended the Second World War in the Netherlands.
4th of May : Remembrance of those who were lost
18.45 – 19.10 Ecumenical Meditation (in the Big Church)
19.20 – 20.00 Silent March
20.00 – 20.30 Two Minutes of Silence and Wreath Laying
20.45 – 22.00 Commemoration Concert
23.15 – 23.50 Fire of Liberation Ceremony
Silent March on the 4th of May
The procession will have a moment of silence at the Jewish monument
at the Walstraat, where a small stone can be placed. The procession
will continue to the Monument for the Fallen 1940-1945 on the Costerweg.
Two minutes of Silence and Wreath Laying
All of the victims from World War Two will be commemorated at 20.00
at the Monument for the Fallen on the Costerweg with two minutes of
silence. Right after that, there will be a wreath laying. Those present can place flowers by the monument.
Commemoration Concert
The Commemoration Concert will start at 20.45 in the Big Church
(Grote Kerk) at the Market (Markt). This year the concert will be
performed by the orchestra Sontante, from Wageningen.
Fire of Liberation Ceremony
The liberation fire will be lit at midnight at the 5 May Square.
Just like the past couple of years, the fire will be brought in by the
athletic association Pallas ’67.
Beforehand, Mondo Leone will perform. Mondo Leone is the name of
the performance and the performer’s name is Leon Giesen. He
combines stories, songs and images into one, for an astounding performance.
The Liberation fire will be handed by Wageningen’s Mayor Geert van Rumund
over to the Commissioner of the Queen of Overijssel, Mr. Geert Jansen.
Then the walker groups will pick up the fire and then the fire of liberation will
be spread all over the Netherlands.
5th of May : Celebration of the liberation
00.00 – 01.30 Fire of Liberation Relay
09.30 – 12.30 Morning Symposium
14.00 – 16.00 Commemoration Gathering
11.00 – 16.00 Programme ‘The Dreijen’
16.00 – 16.15 Commemoration Ceremony at the 5 May Square
13.00 Lighting of the Fire of Liberation at the Market
13.00 – 24.00 Festival of the Liberation
16.00 – 16.15 Commemoration Ceremony at the 5 May Square
16.15 – 17.30 March Past of Freedom
Fire of Liberation Relay
The fire will be lit at 00.00 at 5 May Square by Mayor Geert van Rumund.
The fire of liberation relay exists more than 60 years. Many sportsmen and women come to Wageningen from all over the country. From Wageningen, they go back to where they live with the fire of liberation.
The fire is a special symbol for Freedom and Identity and this is a unique
way to spread the message throughout the Netherlands.
Morning Symposium
The annual morning symposium from the National Committee
Commemoration Capitulations 1945 (in Dutch: NCHC) starts at 9.30
to 12.30. The theme this year is: ‘NAVO 60 years’.
The symposium is a closed event. For attendance information, go to www.nchc.nl .
Commemoration Gathering
The commemoration Gathering is in the Johannes de Doperkerk.
During this commemoration, there will also be the Capitulation
concert.
Programme ‘The Dreijen’
The programme ‘The Dreijen’ is on the grounds of the University
in Wageningen and starts at 11.00. There is a static-show with
historical vehicles, a parachute landing and performances from one
big band and other bands. There are also stands from different
foundations and museums and as a special treat, a replica of the
Battleship Missouri, on which the capitulation from Japan was signed
in 1945. Another part of this programme are the many demonstrations
and also a film programme.
Commemoration Ceremony at the 5 May Square
This impressive ceremony is at the 5 May Square, organized by
the NCHC 1945 Wageningen. During this ceremony schoolchildren
will present ambassadors from the allied countries the flag, who
will then place the flag in a flag stand. The ceremony will come to an
end when 25 white doves are released, as a symbol for peace and freedom.
Festival of the Liberation
The opening for the Festival of the Liberation will take place at the
Market from 12.00 – 13.00. Not only with the fire be lit in Wageningen,
but also at the other 13 Festivals of the Liberation in the Netherlands.
The Festival of the Liberation is a nationally known festival. The festival is in the city centre of Wageningen. There are many different stages, each with it’s own type of music. There is everything from rock to dance
to hiphop. The festival is not only for the youth but also for everybody
older and younger than that.
March Past of Freedom
The March Past of Freedom is a very important part of what makes
Wageningen such a special city in the Netherlands. The theme this year
is ‘NAVO: 60 years’ and veterans from the Second World War and
Indonesia, that have something to do with this theme, get the chance
to walk in the March Past. This year, there are about 1000 veterans,
60 historical vehicles and 10 different bands.
The route that the March Past takes, has been changed since last year.
The new route is now: Generaal Foulkesweg - 5 Mei Plein - Stationstraat
- De Stadsbrink – Ritzema Bosweg.
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