AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - Canadian veterans accustomed to getting a hero's welcome every spring when the Netherlands marks the anniversary of its liberation might well be disappointed if they expected to get a similar reception on Remembrance Day.
Northern Netherlands and Belgium also do ceremonies the first weekend of Nov, where they do a 32 km walk on the Sunday along with a Canadian Contingent. There are events from the Friday to the Sunday, there are many people at all the graves sites and more people than I could count on the walk. Ranging from the very young to the very old.
People approached the troops and were very thankful and the best off all were the graves, they are all very well cared for and was obvious to all that they honoured and respected the dead.
People clapped and cheered as the troops marched past.
Novemner 11th is "Sint Maarten", the Dutch form of halloween, where the kids go to the doors with a home-made lantern, singing a song for candy.
We have May 4th (to remember the dead) and May 5th is Liberation day.
As the gentleman in the story said, WWI was not that important, we were not that involved. In WWII, it was mostly just the part of the Netherlands below the rivers that had a huge problem...
"martin14" said The Dutch observe remembrance of the war dead on May 4.
They celebrate Liberation Day on May 5.
There is also a general Euro holiday on May 8, VE day.
As a side note, Italy remembers Nov. 4,
Slovakia and Spain not at all.
Nov. 11 is for the British Commonwealth.
Having been deployed with Australians, though they paraded with us 11 Nov, somehting they normally did not do at home, 25 Apr they have ANZAC Day, something that coincides with Gallipoli.
They celebrate Liberation Day on May 5.
There is also a general Euro holiday on May 8, VE day.
As a side note, Italy remembers Nov. 4,
Slovakia and Spain not at all.
Nov. 11 is for the British Commonwealth.
People approached the troops and were very thankful and the best off all were the graves, they are all very well cared for and was obvious to all that they honoured and respected the dead.
People clapped and cheered as the troops marched past.
If any one is interested look up Knokke-Heist.
We have May 4th (to remember the dead) and May 5th is Liberation day.
As the gentleman in the story said, WWI was not that important, we were not that involved. In WWII, it was mostly just the part of the Netherlands below the rivers that had a huge problem...
I can't remember, does America do the November 11th thing too?
They have Veteran's Day.
The Dutch observe remembrance of the war dead on May 4.
They celebrate Liberation Day on May 5.
There is also a general Euro holiday on May 8, VE day.
As a side note, Italy remembers Nov. 4,
Slovakia and Spain not at all.
Nov. 11 is for the British Commonwealth.
Having been deployed with Australians, though they paraded with us 11 Nov, somehting they normally did not do at home, 25 Apr they have ANZAC Day, something that coincides with Gallipoli.
I can't remember, does America do the November 11th thing too?
Veteran's Day in the US