80 years of freedom
Zoetermeer looks back on 80 years of freedom
In 2025, Zoetermeer extensively commemorated 80 years of freedom. For a whole year, the city hosted activities to commemorate, celebrate and meet. From guest lectures and film screenings to Freedom Meals, exhibitions and the Liberation Festival: everywhere you could see and feel what freedom means.
More than 150 students visited Camp Westerbork and later told their stories during the Liberation Festival. The Freedom Meals in the neighborhoods also attracted many participants and provided special conversations at the table.
Jakob Lagerweij's photo exhibition Freedom and Bill Baker's concert at the Stadstheater brought the theme to life in a recognizable and emotional way. In late August, the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies was commemorated with the film screening Anak, which drew many elderly people to the theater.
Zoetermeer showed this year that freedom is alive, shared and continues to be passed on.