In Wageningen, Netherlands, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk made a compelling call for stronger European and transatlantic alliances during a speech commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Netherlands’ liberation from German occupation in World War II.
Reflecting on past experiences, Tusk emphasized that unity is essential to overcoming challenges.
Highlighting the current geopolitical climate, he stated, “In the face of the threat posed by Putin’s Russia, we need to deepen our European and transatlantic life, and we need genuine solidarity.”
The event took place during a Dutch Liberation Day ceremony where WWII veterans were celebrated by attendees who had gathered along the streets for a military parade that included both modern and historical aircraft.
Notably, Polish troops were among the Allied forces that played a crucial role in the Netherlands’ liberation.
The center of the festivities was a square near the Hotel de Wereld in Wageningen, historically significant as the site where German officials signed documents on May 5, 1945, formally ending their five-year occupation.
During the ceremony, veterans, decorated with medals and some wrapped in blankets, watched from the front row.
Participating in the parade, a number of veterans engaged with the spectators, offering salutes and even blowing kisses.
At times, they held tulips and other flowers as tokens of the celebration.
The official end of the conflict was marked by Germany’s surrender on May 8, a date now known as Victory in Europe Day.
In the Netherlands, Liberation Day is observed on May 5, following a national moment of silence the day before to honor those who lost their lives in the war.
Aligning with Tusk’s message, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans also took the opportunity to underline the ongoing need to sustain peace efforts.
“War and aggression are back in Europe and it is up to us to protect peace,” he declared.
Additionally, Brekelmans’ speech faced a brief interruption by protestors advocating for Palestinian freedom.
These demonstrators were swiftly managed by police, with five taken into custody, although their actions drew boos from some onlookers.
On the preceding Sunday, important commemorations included Dutch King Willem-Alexander and other dignitaries placing wreaths at a national monument in Amsterdam.
Subsequently, two veterans—Mervyn Kersh, a centenarian from Britain, and Nick Janicki, aged 101 from Canada—kindled the Liberation Fire in Wageningen’s ceremonial square.
The southern regions of the Netherlands had been liberated in 1944, but the more densely populated western areas endured harsh conditions, including the deadly Hunger Winter famine.
These memorial events are occurring amid a backdrop of shifting alliances, with historical bonds between Europe and the United States, who also played a pivotal role in liberating parts of the continent, strained due to a trade dispute under the Trump administration.
In his closing remarks, Tusk urged for unity and cooperative action against global insecurities.
He remarked, “Genuine solidarity between people and nations that will prevent the evil from shaping our present and future.”
He warned that the period of “carefree comfort and joyous unconcern” for Europeans has ended, emphasizing instead a renewed call for European mobilization centered on core values and security.