After the Netherlands was officially liberated from the German occupiers on May 5, 1945, the Dutch government decided to organize a national liberation celebration on August 31, Queen Wilhelmina’s birthday. One year after the liberation, on May 4, 1946, another big party was organized in honor of the liberation. Members of former resistance groups and relatives of war victims decided to organize silent marches in various places in the country on the eve of this major celebration.
This led to the decision to hold a national commemoration of the dead every year on May 4 and a liberation celebration on May 5.
The commemorations usually take place at the various monuments that have been constructed over the years at locations that played a specific role during the Second World War.
Since 1948, the commemorations in The Hague have been organized by the National Commemoration Committee of the District of The Hague.
However, this committee had no legal basis. That is why it was decided at the end of the 1970s to transform the committee into a foundation. On March 20, 1981, the National Remembrance Foundation of The Hague was officially established.
Over the years, the Foundation became responsible for more and more commemorations. In 1992, the Hague Memorial 1940-1945 was created, and in 1999, the monument for forced laborers. The Foundation is currently responsible for ten commemorations in The Hague.
