Liberation Day in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague! (Rare video footage inside)

And it's mind-blowing.

The Netherlands celebrates Liberation Day every year on May 5, marking the liberation of the country from Nazi occupation during WWII.

Throughout the 1940s, many Dutch cities were gradually liberated by Allied forces from Nazi occupation.

And on this day, all those years ago, the Netherlands continues to celebrate the official surrender of the German army.

READ MORE | Photo report: The Netherlands at war 1940-1945

The Dutch celebrated in over 10 cities across the country and some footage of the original celebration has survived! Amongst them, video footage from the Randstad cities of The Hague, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam.

Each city had extremely unique experiences during the war years — so how did they each celebrate Liberation Day?

Thank you to RicksFilmRestoration for these beautiful renditions and colourations of old videos. You can watch his full series of Liberation Day videos on his YouTube Channel.

1. Amsterdam celebration of Liberation Day

Of course, starting with the Netherlands’ capital, Amsterdam has unique stories surrounding Nazi occupation.

From the story of Anne Frank to numerous resistance fighters and organisations, Liberation Day was really a moment of celebration for Amsterdammers.

2. The Hague on Liberation Day

The Hague experienced a particularly turbulent time during World War II, including the construction of the Atlantic Sea Wall, the installation of V2 rockets, and the accidental bombing of the Bezuidenhout neighbourhood by the British Royal Air Force.

3. Liberation Day in Rotterdam

Rotterdam is most famous for the Blitzkrieg bombings that destroyed a majority of the old city architecture, resulting in Rotterdam’s uniquely stunning architecture that has shaped the cityscape since the post-WWII years.

Colourised footage brings history to life, giving everyone a sense of what Dutch people felt and experienced all those years ago.

READ MORE | 8 unmissable movies about the Netherlands in WWII

Thanks again to RicksFilmRestorations for the beautifully colourised footage! Be sure to check out the rest of his Liberation Day videos for a slice of history.

How are you celebrating Liberation Day this year? Tell us in the comments!

Image: Photographer Unknown/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain

Katrien Nivera 🇵🇭
Katrien Nivera 🇵🇭
Third culture kid Katrien has been working as a writer and editor at DutchReview for over two years, originally moving to the Netherlands as a tween. Equipped with a Bachelor’s in communication and media and a Master’s in political communication, she’s here to stay for her passion for writing, whether it’s current Dutch affairs, the energy market, or universities. Just like the Dutch, Katrien lives by her agenda and enjoys the occasional frietje met mayo — she just wishes she could grow tall, too.

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