May is the month when we remember and reflect upon the things that have happened in wartime.
4 of May is a day of remembrance......originally intended for WWII (the Netherlands were neutral in WWI) but it became a day in which we remember those who fell in all the wars which followed (and are still following) WWII.
At 20:00 the whole nation stops for two minutes (it used to be one minute and now it is two....since it is a symbol they could have left it the same........but never mind). The ceremony celebrated at the national monument on Dam square in Amsterdam is broadcasted on all Dutch television and radio. The trumpet plays the “ taptoe” ( a bit like the British " last post” or the American Taps).
Everybody keeps quiet, in remembrance.
Trains (and most cars) stop, the people at home are quiet and for two minutes the country stands still.
It is absolutely chilling .
Then the band plays the national anthem “ the Wilhelmus “ which comes as an absolute liberation after one has felt the weight of the silence.
5 mei is a day of joy, we remember the end of WWII in Europe and our liberation from the German occupation, although the war went on for some other Dutch people like those who were involved with the war with Japan and there is another celebration for the end of the war on the far eastern front on 15 August.
We also remember other things, other times of the year, like the liberation of the extermination camp of Auschwitz 27 January.
This is particularly important for the Netherlands since 80% of its Jewish population together with the Roma-Sinti community commonly called “ gipsies”, the homosexuals, the political prisoners and those who were deemed “ misfits” by the Nazi, were annihilated because of the hatred for anybody who didn’t look like their wrong ideal of purity........racial or political.
Never Again.
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