By Anton Lutter
It was a hot sunny day the Saturday the 24th of June but that didn’t stop the 4000 veterans and serving military to parade before His Majesty King Willem Alexander. Dutch Veterans Day is the annual event in The Netherlands where we thank all 100,000 military veterans for their service, now and in the past.
Next to the military of all service branches, historic army vehicles and dozens of marching bands as well as the impressive air parade of eighteen modern and historic aircraft are part of the event. Prior to the parade Prime minister Mark Rutte and the chairman of the National Committee on Veterans Day, Jaap Smit, the Commissioner (governor) of Zuid-Holland province, addressed the hundreds of veterans in the Koninklijke Schouwburg.
This occasion was attended by HM The King, knights of the Military Order of William (highest decoration for valour), members of parliament and other dignitaries. In his speech the prime minister emphasized the importance of our armed forces:
“For a long time, it seemed unthinkable that we would experience a war on our continent. In fact, we felt so secure as a society that we thought we might be able to cut down on Defense. We were wrong. Never since the end of World War II has peace in Europe been under more pressure, than now. And no sooner had the importance of a well-equipped armed force become so clear. But also: never before was everyone so agreed. In politics and in society. And I can only say: that appreciation, that reassessment, is justified”.
After the parade the Commemoration Veterans Foundation organized a reception for the Defense Attaches and other dignitaries at the famous Poentjak Restaurant owned by Tom Tompoel. Guests – amongst others – included lieutenant-general (ret.) Jan de Kleijn, former chancellor of the Dutch Orders of Knighthood and defense attaches Colonel Thomas Heim (Austria), Colonel Geert Leeman (Belgium), Colonel Christian Bachmann (France), Navy Colonel Mohamed Wirda Prayogo (Indonesia), Colonel Toshiyuki Aso and his successor (Japan), Colonel Piers Strudwick OBE (United Kingdom) as well as the military representative of Poland. Next to that former deputy member of The Hague and member of Parliament Ries Smits and Jens-Volker Ginschel of the German Embassy attended the reception. An unexpected surprise visitor was Ambassador I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja is currently the Executive Director of ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR).
Also participating in the parade was veteran, current Interior Minister Hanke Bruins Slot. As platoon commander of an armored howitzer, she provided fire support to Dutch, British and Australian troops during the Uruzgan mission in 2008. Minister Bruins Slot:
“Veterans make an important contribution back in the Netherlands in the context of cherishing and appreciating freedom. After all, they have seen in other countries how things can go wrong and what that means for a society. Together, you must ensure that people can continue to live in freedom in the Netherlands as well. Veterans are the best interpreters of that message. Because freedom, equality and justice, a better world, you make it together.”
More than 90.000 persons visited the event of whom many wore the white carnation. The usage of the white carnation was an act of resistance against the German occupation on June, 29 1940 in the Hague and has been introduced in 2005, the first time Netherlands Veterans Day was held, as a symbol of recognition and appreciation of war and peace keeping veterans.
