Program 80 years of freedom

On May 3, an 80-kilometer Memorial Tour will take place with about 60-80 army vehicles from the period 1940-1945. The tour will pass through the towns of the municipalities Voorne aan Zee and Nissewaard and will be organized by the "Heeren van Heenvliet" and "Liberation Festival Brielle" foundations. 

The start is at 8:45 a.m. in Brielle from the Arnoldus Botbijlweg and goes through Zwartewaal, Vierpolders, Tinte, Oostvoorne and Rockanje to Hellevoetsluis to the Droogdok. They will arrive here at approximately 10:30 a.m. The vehicles will be set up and can be admired by all. Veterans from the municipalities Voorne aan Zee and Nissewaard are invited to join the Memorial Tour from here. 

Preceded by the "Band of Liberation," the procession of vehicles with veterans will depart again at 11:45 a.m. Mayor Arno Scheepers, along with several members of the council, will conduct the parade at the town hall on Oostzanddijk. Then the march will continue to Nieuwenhoorn, Oudenhoorn, Abbenbroek, Zuidland, Geervliet with the final destination Heenvliet at approximately 2 p.m. Here Mayor Foort van Oosten will welcome the participants. On the Market Square all kinds of things will be organized, including live music in the atmosphere of the May Days of 1945.

The "Band of Liberation" will ride along for the entire ride and will feature music in the towns.

View the full route on the Route of Remembrance Tour page.

Commemorations on May 4, 2025

• 17.00 Tinte, Colinslandsedijk
• 6:30 p.m. Rockanje (residential care center Stuifakkers), silent march along monuments Tweede Slag and Blindeweg. Afterwards to cemetery Maria Rust.
• 7:55 p.m. Rockanje, Commemoration at cemetery Maria Rust. Afterwards there is the possibility for a (free) cup of coffee/tea in Stuifakkers.
• 6:30 p.m. Brielle, the Shul and then monument Catharine Church.
• 8:45 p.m. Brielle Catharijnekerk Memorial and Liberation Concert: Randstad Male Choir and musicians from Havlíčkův Brod.
• 7 p.m. Nieuwenhoorn, church and monument Rijksstraatweg.
• 7 p.m. Oostvoorne, Voorweg cemetery.
• 4 p.m. Zwartewaal, lecture in Martinuskerk by Bob Benschop of the Streekarchief on his book "Voorne Putten in wartime. Entrance free.
• 7:30 p.m. Zwartewaal, commemoration at monument on the Havenkade, followed by reading names of war victims in the Martinus Church
• 7:00-7:30 p.m. Oudenhoorn, memorial service in the church.
• 7:30 -20:00 p.m. Oudenhoorn, drinking coffee in the little building next to the church.
• 8 p.m. Oudenhoorn, two minutes of silence outside at the monument, laying flowers, trumpeter playing and then singing the National Anthem.

Traditionally, on the night of May 4-5, the Liberation Fire is lit on the May 5 square in Wageningen. The Liberation Fire is the symbol for national unity and for living in peace and freedom. On the night of May 4-5, the mayor of Wageningen ignites the fire in front of the historic Hotel de Wereld during the ceremony. On May 5, 1945, the orders to execute the surrender document were signed there. From this historic location walking groups will depart into the country to spread the fire, also towards our municipality of Voorne aan Zee. The fire is received at five locations here. Again this year a large group of employees of Voorne Voorne aan zee Zee will walk along. The mayor will receive the Liberation Fire after midnight and walk along the part to the Grebbeberg.

• Turfkade in Brielle, near Liberation Monument at approximately 2:15 p.m.
• Strypsedijk 48 in Tinte, on Tintestein Square at approximately 2:50 p.m.
• Oostzanddijk 26 in Hellevoetsluis, across from the town hall at approximately 3:35 p.m.
• Briggemandreef 26 in Rockanje, near Stuifakkers at approximately 4:50 p.m.  

Program Brielle

Location: Center Brielle

Plan your route

From May 2 through May 5, the Liberation Festival Brielle will take place. Check out the diverse program on the Liberation Festival Brielle website.

Program Hellevoetsluis

Location: Oostzandijk 26, Hellevoetsluis

Plan your route

Saturday, May 3 Memorial Tour 

For the entire route, check out the Memorial Tour Route page.

• 10:30-10:45 a.m. Arrive at Dry Dock and set up 60-80 army vehicles from 1940-1945. Visitors can view the vehicles. Then reception by B&W Voorne aan Zee and Nissewaard and reception of veterans.
• 11:45-12:00 departure from Dry Dock with veterans and continuation of memorial tour
• 12:00-12:15 p.m. parade of army vehicles Gallasplein- Oostzanddijk toward Nieuwenhoorn

Monday, May 5

• 3:35 p.m. Arrival of Liberation Fire, Oostzandijk 26, across from City Hall.

Program Oudenhoorn

Location: church Oudenhoorn, Ring 1 Oudenhoorn

Plan your route

Monday, May 5

• 09.30-11.00 Liberation Day breakfast for seniors from Oudenhoorn followed by a lecture
• 12.00-12.30 brass band tour of the village
• 13.00 18.00 activities in the tent near the church
• From 1:30 p.m. three short lectures on Oudenhoorn in wartime by Bob Benschop

Program Oostvoorne

Location: Biberbunker, Zandweg 83 Oostvoorne

Plan your route

From May 3 to 5, the Liberation Event will take place in Oostvoorne. See the entire program on the website Biberbunker. 

Freedom meal sign up through the Biberbunker website.

Old yellow American school buses will run between Tinte, Oostvoorne and Brielle to shuttle people. 

Music program: 

10 a.m.-5 p.m. music (The Franjas; Madame Jeanette; Sloan & Freeman; The Foetsies; Nutcrackers; Flageolettes; Lizzy V 

The music festival will continue in Tinte until 11 p.m. with music on 3 stages.

Program Rockanje

Location: Open Air Museum De Duinhuisjes, Duinstraat 18 Rockanje

Plan your route

Monday, May 5

• 12.00-12.30 Walk-in (free admission)
• 12:30-16:00 Freedom Supper with table conversation and music
• 12.00-16.00 Exhibition Creative towards freedom

Freedom meal sign up at nl or by phone at 06 2417 3646.

Program Tinte

Location: Tintestein, Strijpsedijk 48 Tinte

Plan your route

Music festival at Tintestein with various performances. Performances will also take place at the Biberbunker. An American school bus will transport you between these locations (Tinte, Biberbunker and Brielle) on May 5.

Monday, May 5

Festival schedule

Acoustic stage:

Orchestra stage:

Main stage:

Program Zwartewaal

Plan your route

Location: Christinalaan 2, Zwartewaal

Monday, May 5

• 9 a.m. Liberation Breakfast at the Gaffer. Admission free, sign up via email bevrijdingZwartewaal@outlook.com.