Culture

Freedom, you make the difference!

Wageningen45 (National Committee for the Commemoration of the 1945 Capitulations)

Produce two live television programmes in collaboration on 4 and 5 May from Wageningen, involving all relevant stakeholders, including the Liberation Festivals, participants in the National Liberation Fire Relay and the liberation parade, Omroep Gelderland, NOS, and Theater Na de Dam.

This resulted in two distinct live television programmes on 4 and 5 May. On 4 May, a theatrical programme and the lighting of the Freedom Fire marked the transition from remembrance to celebration: from reflecting on the past to celebrating freedom.Broadcast live on NPO 1 from Hotel de Wereld on 5 May Square in Wageningen, presenter Winfried Baijens hosted the television programme ‘Vuur van de Vrijheid’. In collaboration with Theater Na de Dam, Wageningen45, and NOS, we created a memorable and theatrical programme for all generations.

Through music, stories, and poetry about war and remembrance, the programme brought reflection, connection, and celebration together. Contributions came from, among others, Rob Dekay, HAEVN, Maarten Heijmans, Joost Prinsen, The Jordan, Berget Lewis, Lucas Rijneveld, and Sosha Duysker.As tradition dictates, the Freedom Fire was lit during the ceremony in collaboration with the mayor of Wageningen. Afterwards, more than 1,700 relay runners departed across 5 May Square, carrying the fire to around 90 municipalities throughout the Netherlands.In this way, the flame reached a quarter of all municipalities in the country, allowing everyone to contribute in their own way to cherishing and celebrating our freedom. The Verschilmakers received the peace flame to continue its journey and bring it to all Liberation Festivals across the Netherlands.

On 5 May, the National Commemoration of the 1945 Capitulations took place, featuring two moving films from the now traditional letter-writing initiative. The stories and actions of a 99-year-old resistance fighter and an equally 99-year-old Canadian veteran were brought into the spotlight through these personal portraits.The ceremony was broadcast live by Omroep Gelderland.

"Together with XSAGA, we explored ways to make the ceremonies on 4 and 5 May more impactful and give them a larger platform, without compromising on their content. This resulted, among other things, in ‘Vuur van de Vrijheid’, created in collaboration with NOS and Theater Na de Dam. An impressive live programme on NPO 1, in which various art forms were used to create a bridge between remembrance on 4 May and cherishing freedom on 5 May.On 5 May, XSAGA was responsible for producing the National Commemoration of the 1945 Capitulations in collaboration with Omroep Gelderland. This live programme also successfully created a ceremony that connected history and current affairs, younger and older generations, as well as war and freedom."

Chris Janssen - Director National Committee for the Commemoration of the 1945 Capitulations