Remembrance Day, May 4, 2026
On Monday, May 4, a Remembrance Day ceremony was held at the war memorial in Wilhelminapark. On this day, we commemorate all civilians and military personnel who have lost their lives in the Netherlands or elsewhere in the world since the outbreak of World War II, as well as the victims of armed conflicts and peacekeeping missions.
Silent march
A silent procession set out from St. Nicholas Church on Dorpsstraat proceeded via the Oude Kerk to the war memorial in Wilhelminapark. At the monument near the Oude Kerk, Mayor Bezuijen and his wife laid a wreath at the grave of American pilot John McCormick and at the communal grave of resistance fighters Jacob Leendert van Rij, Jan Hoorn, and Cornelis van Eerden. Major Justin Shortmann and members of the John McCormick Scout Group then laid a wreath at the grave of pilot McCormick. Finally, the Hoorn family laid flowers at the shared grave of the resistance fighters.
The drummers from the Kunst en Vriendschap music association and members of the John McCormick Scout Troop led the silent procession. They carried all the wreaths and floral arrangements and were followed by Mayor Bezuijen, members of the Contact Oud Mariniers, and Zoetermeer veterans. Many residents joined the silent procession.
Wilhelmina Park War Memorial
After the procession arrived at the monument, two minutes of silence were observed at 8:00 p.m. Following that, wreaths and flowers were laid, and Child Mayor Sarah van den Berg and Mayor Bezuijen delivered speeches. The orchestra of the Kunst en Vriendschap music association provided the music during this gathering. Julia Pecyna (age 9, winner of the May 4 and 5 poetry contest) recited her poem. Airplanes from the Rotterdam Aero Club (RAC) flew over Wilhelminapark. One of the airplanes performed a flyover salute in tribute to the fallen and deceased pilots.
Read the speech by Child Mayor Sarah van den Berg here:
Read Mayor Bezuijen’s speech here:
Read Julia Pecyna’s poem here
Photos from the Remembrance Day ceremony on May 4, 2026
Participating organizations
The organizations listed below are participating in the May 4 Commemoration in Zoetermeer. Click on the sections below for more information.
John McCormick Scout Troop
Every year, the John McCormick Scout Troop plays a key role in organizing a respectful Remembrance Day ceremony in Zoetermeer. Starting in January, they work closely with other participating organizations and committee members to prepare for the event.
During the silent procession, the Scout members carry the wreaths and floral arrangements and play an active role in the commemoration ceremony. They also lay the wreaths on behalf of the organizations that donated them.
For many years, the Scouting group has proudly dedicated itself to this special and meaningful gathering, with the shared goal of keeping the message "Pass on Freedom" alive.
Kunst en Vriendschap Music Association
For decades, the Kunst en Vriendschap Music Association has provided the musical accompaniment for the Remembrance Day ceremony in Zoetermeer. The percussionists lead the silent procession with muffled drums.
At the monument, the orchestra plays solemn music and the tattoo signal is sounded. For years, this has been performed by trumpeter Arjen van Putten, who plays the signal precisely on time so that it coincides with the ringing of the church bell at 8:00 p.m.
For the association, the commemoration is a special and meaningful occasion that the members dedicate themselves to with great commitment every year.
Contact the Former Marines Shooting Club (COM sv)
The Contact Oud Mariniers Shooting Club has been involved in organizing the May 4 Commemoration for about 25 years. At the request of the municipality, the club participates in the working group that helps make the commemoration possible.
The COM sv was founded by and for former marines and naval personnel, and is also open to current and former service members from various branches of the armed forces. In addition to promoting the sport of shooting, the organization places a strong emphasis on camaraderie, strength, and dedication. These are the core values of the Marine Corps.
The association is proud to contribute to the commemoration, guided by values such as strength, dedication, and camaraderie—summed up in the saying: "Once a Marine, always a Marine."
De Springplank Dalton School
De Springplank Dalton School has approximately 280 students and has been located in the heart of the Seghwaert neighborhood for 30 years. As a Dalton school, it upholds the core values of freedom and responsibility, independence, collaboration, and reflection.
For the past five years, De Springplank has participated in the May 4 commemoration. Each year, five students stand at the monument, where they pay tribute on behalf of the school to the victims of World War II and subsequent wars and peacekeeping missions.
Within the school, they place an emphasis on citizenship, and participating in the May 4 commemoration makes a valuable contribution to this subject and to the ongoing remembrance of World War II, ensuring that future generations continue to understand the importance of freedom.
