May 4th and 5th

Remembrance Day and Liberation Day. The Netherlands has its own way of commemorating the Second World War and all its victims. At may 4th at 20:00 there are two minutes of silence throughout the country, just to stand still and think. From six till two minutes past eight in the evening flags are at half mast. After the period of silence flags are hoisted normal again until the sun goes down. A few years ago, our government questioned if this remembering of the victims of the war should be stopped, but the Dutch people reacted (as normally) just the opposite way. Since then, these may 4th is busier than ever.