After two silent years due to the corona crisis, Liberation Day is celebrated extensively again today. A Liberation Festival will be held at fourteen places in the Netherlands and, traditionally, Ambassadors of Freedom have also been appointed.
These ambassadors are on stage in different places today. Three Defense helicopters fly with the ambassadors to a total of fourteen festivals in all twelve provinces.
Own helicopter
Singing duo Suzan & Freek and rapper Donnie each have their own helicopter at their disposal. Eurovision winner Duncan Laurence and rapper Fresku share an airplane and each also travel pieces by bus during the day.
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Ambassadors Suzan and Freek start in Haarlem, after which they also visit Almere, Assen and Leeuwarden. Duncan Laurence performs in North Brabant, South Holland, Zeeland and Limburg.
Donnie will go to Overijssel, Groningen, Gelderland and North Brabant and Fresku will perform in Utrecht, The Hague and Amsterdam.
Stories about freedom
In the run-up to May 5, the Ambassadors have made topical stories about freedom. For example, Suzan and Freek spoke with refugees on Lesbos and in Athens, together with the Refugee Foundation. Duncan Laurence researched together with historian Klaus Müller stories from the LGBTQ+ community during the Second World War.
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In addition to the musical performances, many substantive programs are also organized at the Liberation Festivals. For example, so-called Freedom Lectures are held at all festivals.
At 16.55 – or 5 to 5 – the festivals draw attention to the people who are fleeing war and violence worldwide. This year’s theme is the war in Ukraine. Lilly Pavlova, a young artist, photographer and drummer from Kiev, tells in Zwolle about how she fled the capital with her sister and a friend.
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