[Video] Dutch Holidays: Remembrance Day (Dodenherdenking)

All year round, people in the Netherlands look forward to Liberation Day. It is a day of celebration, festivals, parties and all-round good cheer. It is an important Dutch holiday, signifying when the Netherlands was liberated from the Nazi invaders and people celebrate their freedom, rights and democracy.

However, the day before Liberation Day is also a very important holiday. May 4, marks Dodenherdenking or Remembrance Day, where the country comes together to pay homage to the men and women who laid down their lives fighting for our freedom during World War Two.

How to celebrate Remembrance Day

Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus pandemic, ceremonies across the country have been called off. A specially adapted ceremony will take place in Amsterdam in Dam Square, which will be broadcast for the people to follow at home.

The video below takes you through how Remembrance Day is usually celebrated in the Netherlands, from what ceremonies take place to the two-minute silence that is observed every year. The video is in Dutch, however, there are both English and Dutch subtitles as well as a glossary of keywords that appears on the screen, perfect for those of you trying to learn the language!