Liberation Day

Liberation Day in the Netherlands is celebrated every year on 5 May. In Dutch, it is called Bevrijdingsdag.

It marks the liberation of the Netherlands from Nazi occupation at the end of the Second World War. The country had been occupied by Germany from May 1940 until May 1945.

Liberation Day comes one day after Remembrance Day on 4 May. That order is important. First, the Netherlands remembers the victims of war. Then it celebrates freedom.

This gives 5 May a different feeling from a normal festival day. There is music, food and celebration. But there is also history behind it.

What does Liberation Day celebrate?

Liberation Day celebrates the end of the German occupation of the Netherlands in 1945.

But the meaning is broader than one historical date. Today, 5 May is also about freedom, democracy and living in a constitutional state.

The National Committee for 4 and 5 May describes Liberation Day as the day when the Netherlands celebrates the freedom it has enjoyed since 1945. This includes both the absence of war and life in a democratic society.

That is why many events on 5 May include more than music. You may also see freedom meals, debates, exhibitions, interviews and educational programmes.

What happened on 5 May 1945?

The most important symbolic place for Liberation Day is Wageningen.

On 5 May 1945, Canadian Lieutenant-General Charles Foulkes met German General Johannes Blaskowitz at Hotel de Wereld in Wageningen. The meeting concerned the practical surrender of German forces in the Netherlands.

The formal surrender document was signed the next day, on 6 May. But 5 May became the national date of liberation because of the Wageningen meeting. Europe Remembers also notes that final negotiations about the capitulation of German forces in the Netherlands took place at Hotel de Wereld on 5 May 1945, with the official signing following on 6 May.

This is why Wageningen still plays a central role every year.

Why Wageningen matters

Wageningen is often called the City of Liberation.

Hotel de Wereld is the best-known symbol of that history. According to the hotel’s own history, Foulkes handed Blaskowitz instructions there on 5 May 1945 about the practical implementation of the capitulation. Prince Bernhard was also present as commander of the Dutch Interior Forces.

Every year, the national Liberation Day programme begins in Wageningen. The Liberation Flame, or Bevrijdingsvuur, is lit there. Runners then carry the flame to different parts of the country.

It is a simple symbol: freedom starts in Wageningen and spreads across the Netherlands.

Is Liberation Day a public holiday?

Yes, 5 May is an official national holiday in the Netherlands.

But this is where it gets confusing. It does not automatically mean that everyone gets a paid day off every year.

Many people only get Liberation Day off once every five years, in so-called lustrum years. These are years ending in 0 or 5, such as 2025, 2030 and 2035. In other years, it depends on your employer, sector or collective labour agreement.

So the practical answer is:

Liberation Day is a national holiday, but not always a guaranteed day off work.

If you live or work in the Netherlands, check your employment contract or CAO.

How do Dutch people celebrate Liberation Day?

The biggest public celebrations are the Bevrijdingsfestivals.

These are official free Liberation Day festivals held across the Netherlands. They include live music, DJs, food stands and cultural programmes. But they also include themes such as freedom, human rights, democracy and remembrance.

There are also local ceremonies, freedom meals, museum events, lectures and school activities.

In Amsterdam, Liberation Day often ends with the 5 May Concert on the River Amstel. The National Committee describes this concert as the festive closing of Liberation Day.

The link with Remembrance Day

You cannot fully understand Liberation Day without Remembrance Day.

On 4 May, the Netherlands remembers civilians and soldiers who died in war and peacekeeping missions. At 20:00, the country observes two minutes of silence.

On 5 May, the mood changes. The country celebrates freedom.

This two-day rhythm is one of the most important civic traditions in the Netherlands. It says: freedom is worth celebrating, but only after remembering what it cost.

Freedom is worth celebrating, but only after remembering what it cost.

Where should you go on Liberation Day?

If you want history, go to Wageningen. It has the strongest connection to the events of May 1945.

If you want music and crowds, go to one of the official Bevrijdingsfestivals. There are festivals in different provinces, so you do not need to travel to Amsterdam.

If you are in Amsterdam, check the local programme for freedom meals, concerts, exhibitions and the 5 May Concert.

If you want a quieter experience, visit a local memorial, museum or community event. Liberation Day does not have to be loud to be meaningful.

Practical tips for visitors

• Check whether you have the day off. Do not assume that all workplaces close on 5 May.
• If you plan to visit a festival, arrive early. The official Bevrijdingsfestivals are free, so they can get busy.
• Use public transport where possible. City centres and festival areas may be crowded.
• Bring layers. Early May weather in the Netherlands can change quickly.
• Take the historical side seriously. Liberation Day is festive, but it is not just a party.

Is Liberation Day worth experiencing?

Yes.

Liberation Day is one of the best days to understand Dutch public culture. It shows how the Netherlands connects history to daily freedom.

You can experience it as a festival. You can experience it through a ceremony. You can experience it in Wageningen, at a concert, at a freedom meal or in a small local event.

The form changes from city to city. The message stays the same: freedom is not automatic.

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