Netherlands celebrates Liberation Day

Radio Netherlands ^ | May 05 2003

[knighthawk]

The Netherlands is celebrating Liberation Day today with festivals, concerts and remembrance ceremonies all around the country. The theme of this year's celebrations is "Freedom is Not For Sale".

Official celebrations began with a service this morning in the St Bavokerk in Haarlem. Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende was one of the speakers at the service. In his address, Mr Balkenende refered to a famous speech made by former US president Franklin Roosevelt linking a life free of fear and hunger with freedom of speech and religion.

In the city of Wageningen, around four thousand veterans took part in the traditional memorial parade. Prince Bernhard, the father of Queen Beatrix, took the salute at the parade. The 91-year old prince also attended the memorial service in a nearby church.

Liberation Day was also celebrated with pop festivals in all the Dutch provinces. An estimated 700 thousand people attended the various events. Official celebrations will close in the capital Amsterdam with an outdoor gala concert which will be attended by Queen Beatrix and the prime minister.

[RepublicanHippy]

Happy Liberation Day! My father, of Dutch extraction, was in the US Army, (82nd Airborne) during WWII. At one point he was in Arnheim and elsewhere in Holland. Later he was transferred to the 84th Infantry and fought on the front lines in Germany (1944-45). Some years ago I visited Arnheim during one of several trips to Holland.

[knighthawk]

And today a lot of people remember the murder of Pim Fortuyn and there are calls to mark this day as a day to remember we got freedom of speech.

[knighthawk]

I know Venlo. I live in Helden, a town 24 km away from Venlo. I also think I know which company you work for.

[knighthawk]

Yes, but only with a permit, which is hard to obtain. Hunters can have buckshot rifles without a permit though.

[knighthawk]

We owe your father our freedom then!

[knighthawk]

The south of the Netherlands were liberated earlier, that part mostly by paratroopers from the 101st and 82nd. Polish, Canadian and UK troops did their part too.

Near Eindhoven there is a Airborne museum too.

8.000 US troops are buried in Margraten, were there will be a remembrance May 25.

[Consort]

[facedown]

I'll do the honors for you Sir:

[Spirited]

Happy Liberation Day celebration, Knighthawk. Belated but sincere.

[RepublicanHippy]

"We owe your father our freedom then!"

Thank you knighthawk.

[Mugwumps]

To our friend, knighthawk, across the sea. Happy Liberation Day!

[knighthawk]

Miss that guy. What would it be great with him as our MP. May 6 will be a day to remember we got a thing called 'freedom of speech'.