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Due to the corona crisis, the National Remembrance Day on May 4 this year is different from other years. Tuesday May 5 we celebrate our freedom for the 75e times, how ironic this is in times of corona. We have been living in limited freedom for weeks because of the coronavirus and this year May 5 (Liberation Day) is an official holiday. Normally there are festive activities throughout the Netherlands. 

Mobility is now also hard to find, where in other years old army vehicles could be seen everywhere in parades across the country, we will now have to do it from home behind the tube. Last year, historical aircraft such as the Harvard T6 and the Beech also flew above the Waal on 5 May. On May 4, 2019, three Airgunners flew to the Remembrance Day in Dronten.

During the National Remembrance Day, King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima will lay a wreath at the National Monument on Dam Square in Amsterdam on 4 May. This year, however, it is without an audience, but Mayor Femke Halsema and Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Gerdi Verbeet (chairman of the National Committee) will be there. The King will give a speech during the commemoration.

Because May 4 and 5 this year is completely different from normal, the National Committee calls on Dutch people to digitally lay a flower as an alternative to laying flowers at monuments. You can present a virtual flower or message to 3900 war memorials in the Netherlands via the website of the National Committee. 

Jan van Kooten (director of the National Committee) also collaborated with Tikkie 'Flowers for May 4started, anyone who wants to can donate flowers via the Tikkie app. In this way, the Dutch flower growers affected by the corona crisis are also supported and the war memorials throughout the Netherlands still have beautiful flowers.  

Also read: Municipalities responsible for target group transport

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