The Netherlands Liberation Day is a public holiday in the Netherlands celebrated on May 5 each year. It is known as Bevrijdingsdag to the Dutch which marks the end of the Nazi occupation of the country during the Second World War. The Netherlands got independence from Nazi Germany on 5th May 1945 and since then, May 5 is celebrated as National Day or Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag). Please scroll below to learn more about the Liberation Day of the Netherlands along with its History, Celebrations, Wishes, Greetings, Messages, and Quotes.
Netherlands Liberation Day 2024
A national day is a day on which sentiments mark the nationhood of a nation, country, or state. It could be the date of independence, the date of becoming a republic or evolving into a union, or a significant date for a patron saint or a ruler such as a birthday, accession, removal etc. The Netherlands celebrates its National Day on May 5, 1945, as Bevrijdingsdag, or Liberation Day remembering liberation from Nazi Germany. In 2024, Liberation Day of Netherlands will be celebrated on Sunday, May 5.
History of the Netherlands Liberation Day
The Netherlands was freed by the British Infantry Division, Canadian forces, the British I Corps, American, Belgian, Dutch, and Czechoslovakian troops, and the 1st Polish Armored Division. Area parts of the country, particularly the southeast, were freed by the British Second Army which included American and Polish airborne forces and French airborne.
On the 5th May 1945, Canadian Corps Commander Lieutenant-General Charles Foulkes and Generaloberst Johannes Blaskowitz, the Dutch Commander-in-Chief of the Oberbefelschebe, agreed on a treaty on the surrender of all German forces in the Netherlands. The concession document was signed the next day (as there were no typewriters available the previous day) in the auditorium of nearby Wageningen University.
Netherlands Liberation Day Celebrations
After achieving independence, Liberation Day had been celebrated every five years since 1945. In 1990, a state declaration came that the day would be a national holiday to commemorate and celebrate independence every year. Festivities and celebrations take place in most parts of the Netherlands, including veterans' parades and music festivals across the country. Many employees have this day off, but it is not recognised by law. The city of Enschede hosts several music festivals throughout the city to celebrate Liberation Day.
National Flag of the Netherlands
The national flag of the Netherlands (Dutch: de Nederlandse flag) is a flat horizontal tricolour flag consisting of red, white, and blue colour respectively. It has a proportion of 2:3 in general but is not formalised by law.
The flag was first adopted in 1575 with the first full-colour depiction. In 1596, the red colour was replaced by the colour orange. In 1937, red was reaffirmed while in 1949, the colours of the flag were standardised. It is used to ensign small vexillological symbols or pictograms in black and white showing the different uses of the flag.
A flag that symbolizes the transition from monarchy to republic, it inspired both the derivative Russian flag and the vertically striped French tricolour after the French Revolution in 1789, both flags influencing many other tricolours. During the economic catastrophe of the 1930s, the orange Old Prince flag earned some popularity among some people. To eliminate the confusion, the colours red, white and blue and its official dignity as the national flag of the Kingdom of the Netherlands were reaffirmed by royal proclamation on 19 February 1937.
National Symbols of the Netherlands
Netherlands symbols are items or signs that symbolize or represent the Netherlands. These symbols appear in official capacities, such as flags, coats of arms, postage stamps and currency, and in URLs. The emblem or symbol depicts a lion holding arrows and a sword.
Motto & Anthem of the Netherlands
"Je Maintiendrai" (French) (English: 'I will maintain') is the Netherlands' motto, which was adopted from the coat of arms of the family of Orange-Nassau.
The National Anthem of both the Netherlands and the Kingdom of the Netherlands is "Wilhelmus" (Dutch) (English: "William of Nassau").
"Wilhelmus van Nassouwe", commonly known as "Wilhelmus", was adopted back to at least 1572, making it the oldest national anthem in use today, providing the latter is distinguished as a combination of both melody and song.
Happy Netherlands Liberation Day 2024: Wishes, Greetings
For the Dutch, the following day, 5 May signifies the end of World War II when German General Blaskowitz signed the surrender of the Nazi occupational forces in the Netherlands in Hotel De Wereld in Wageningen. We've brought the best Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag) messages to wish your loved ones -
- Let us remember all the heroes of the past who fought for our freedom and unity. Happy Liberation Day!
- Let us salute the martyrs for their sacrifices and thank them for giving us freedom by leading their lives. Happy Liberation Day!
- No nation is perfect; rather, it needs to be perfected. Happy Liberation Day!
- Let your spirit wake up with the flag today! Happy Liberation Day!
- Lots of sacrifices have been made and we've done a lot to build our own culture and heritage, so let's celebrate it today.
- Let's spare a moment to think about their sacrifices and what they had to pay for the freedoms we enjoy. Happy Liberation Day!
The Netherlands Liberation Day 2024 Status, Captions
To commemorate their sacrifices here we brought several statuses. Simply copy them and post them on social media platforms -
- Today we are celebrating the glory of independence. We don't realize its value until we lose it, so let's remember it and never let it go. Happy Bevrijdingsdag!
- Salute to all the soldiers on this day who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, for our defence! Je maintiendrai!
- I'm proud to be a part of a prosperous nation like the Netherlands. Happy Bevrijdingsdag!
- Today we remember those who had shed their blood for our freedom. They are worthy of glory and honours!
- I wish you all a safe, sound, and Happy Liberation Day celebration.
- We are blessed to have the right to speak and be heard. Many brave souls fought for their rights. Happy Liberation Day!
The Netherlands Liberation Day 2024 SMS, Messages
To mark the end of World War II, the Netherlands forces designated a day as Bevrijdingsdag which is celebrated on 5 May. Today we present some best SMS on the occasion of this great Liberation Day that will hopefully help you to greet people -
- Nothing is better than living in a free and self-reliant nation. Happy Liberation Day!
- Happy Liberation Day! Let your mind and body be free, have faith in your words, and have pride in your soul.
- Let's salute and celebrate our nation today and always. Happy Liberation Day Netherlands!
- I pay tribute to the lives and sacrifices of those who gave us freedom. Happy Bevrijdingsdag!
- Let us all pledge on this glorious day to preserve the peace and unity of our great nation.
- Today should not be the only day to pay tribute to our beautiful nation.
The month of May is very significant in the Dutch calendar. Just a week after the country celebrates King's Day (Koningsdag), it turns its attention to the past; More specifically, the end of Nazi Germany's occupation during World War II. This historical milestone is first marked by Remembrance Day on May 4 and later Liberation Day on May 5.