Photo: Remembrance Day in 2019
Today, May 4, is the day that we remember our victims of wars and violence. During the National Remembrance Day, we all take a moment to think about the civilians and soldiers who have died or been killed in the Kingdom of the Netherlands or anywhere else in the world since the outbreak of the Second World War, in war situations and during peacekeeping operations.
The Remembrance Day 2020 is special because of the corona crisis and that also applies to Dutch people in Thailand. Today on the occasion of Remembrance Day, wreaths were laid at the flag in the embassy garden on behalf of the embassy, the Dutch Association Thailand Bangkok, NVT Pattaya and the Dutch Association Thailand Hua Hin Chaam, the NTCC – Netherlands-Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Thailand Business Foundation.
The annual theme of 2020 is 75 years of freedom. In 2019 and 2020 we commemorate the end of the Second World War, 75 years ago. We reflect on the freedom that has been won by people who have made great sacrifices for it. We celebrate that we have been living in freedom again since 1945, realizing that together we are responsible to pass on freedom to new generations.
The liberation meant the restoration of our free and open democratic constitutional state. The rights and freedoms that arise from this are not optional. They create a responsibility for everyone to maintain and strengthen it.
This year, due to the Coronavirus, the commemoration in Bangkok will take place in an adapted form, without an audience. This afternoon, between 15 and 17 p.m., the embassy offers interested parties the opportunity to come by for an individual moment of commemoration, and possibly to lay down flowers themselves. Visitors are urged to keep a sufficient distance from others and to leave the embassy grounds after a few minutes of reflection. Those interested can use the entrance on Wireless Road. Pre-registration is not necessary. However, identification may be requested.
Remembrance Day in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, everything is now different from all previous years. There are no crowded ceremonies at monuments across the country. And no full Dam or Waalsdorpervlakte either. But because of corona, virtually laying flowers and listening to the trumpet at home, and then being silent for two minutes.
The Dam is almost empty tonight. On the Amsterdam square, which is normally full of interested people on May 4, only King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, in the presence of Prime Minister Rutte, Mayor Halsema and National Committee 4 and 5 May chairman Gerdi Verbeet, lay a flower wreath.
There is also a small ensemble with trumpet player Jeroen Schippers who will play the Taptoe signal. The Committee 4 and 5 May calls on people who play a wind instrument to play the tattoo and asks everyone to sing the Wilhelmus. The blow along is an initiative of the Oranjevereniging in Etten-Leur and starts at 19:58 pm and 30 seconds.
The memorial meeting in the Nieuwe Kerk prior to the ceremony on Dam Square is without an audience. Arnon Grunberg gives a lecture and there is music.
The 4 and 5 May Committee also calls on everyone to commemorate from home and not to visit monuments. Flags can be flown at half-mast all day today, instead of from 18 p.m.
Source: Dutch embassy in Bangkok and NOS