May 5th (last year ascension day), also Liberation day in Netherlands.  Many troops arrived on June 6th (this year Pentecost).

 
Holland enjoys 60 years’ freedom
 
 On June 6, 1944 a huge number of allied troops landed in Normandy. This marked the start of the liberation of Western Europe. During 2004 and 2005 sixty years of freedom will be commemorated and celebrated throughout Europe. In September 2004 it will have been exactly sixty years ago that the allied forces began their fight against the German occupiers in Holland. They managed to liberate parts of southern Holland. On May 5, 1945 the German army surrendered and the whole of Holland was free once more.

On May 4 and 5, 2005 celebration events and liberation festivals will be held throughout the country. Please read on for a selection of these events.

SILENT WALK AND REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY
Groesbeek
May 3, 2005
Silent walk and Remembrance Ceremony at Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, where 2,338 Canadian soldiers are buried. Groesbeek is situated just south of the city of Nijmegen.

REMEMBRANCE CEREMONIES
National
May 4, 2005
Remembrance Ceremonies take place in many cities and villages in Holland.

11.00 a.m.
Remembrance Ceremony at the Canadian War Cemetery, in Holten, where 1.400 soldiers are buried. Canadian War Cemetery is located between Holten and Nijverdal.

07.30 p.m.
National Remembrance-ceremony will take place at the National Monument, Dam Square in Amsterdam. HM Queen Beatrix and other dignitaries will attend.

START OF CELEBRATIONS
Noord-Brabant
May 5, 2005