Particle.news
Download on the App Store
10 ARTICLES
·
5d ago

Netherlands Marks 80th Liberation Anniversary with Ceremonies Honoring Canadian Veterans

Liberation Day events feature veteran-led commemorations, youth engagement, and diplomatic reflections on enduring Dutch-Canadian ties.

A person protests during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima lay a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
People attend a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Pigeons fly as Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima arrive to lay a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Overview

  • Canadian and British World War II veterans, including 101-year-old Nick Janicki, lit the Liberation Fire in Wageningen, commemorating the German surrender on May 5, 1945.
  • Thousands gathered in Apeldoorn and Wageningen to honor Canadian veterans, with parades, flags, and public gratitude highlighting the celebrations.
  • More than 1,000 Canadian students participated in liberation events, visiting historical sites and forging connections with veterans and Dutch citizens.
  • Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and King Willem-Alexander led national remembrance ceremonies, reflecting on the sacrifices of war and the importance of freedom.
  • The events underscore the lasting bond between the Netherlands and Canada, rooted in the First Canadian Army's pivotal role in liberating the country during WWII.