Zoetermeer looks back on 80 Years of Freedom: a year of remembrance, celebration and passing on
In 2025, Zoetermeer extensively commemorated 80 years of freedom. For a year, activities were organized throughout the city that together formed a powerful whole of remembrance, encounter and celebration. From guest lectures and film screenings to Freedom Meals, photo exhibitions and the Liberation Festival, everywhere you could see and feel what freedom means.
Remembering and learning
At several schools, guest speakers from the Holocaust Museum told about the history of World War II and the importance of freedom today. The combination of personal stories, teaching material and reflection brought the theme close to home. The film screening of The Auschwitz Report at the Stadstheater also made for an impressive evening of reflection.
More than 150 students from 8 schools participated in a youth trip to Camp Westerbork. During this day they learned about the past, talked to each other about freedom and recorded their experiences in short videos that were later shown during the Liberation Festival. The trip made a deep impression and was described by the schools as a valuable and educational experience.
Freedom in the neighborhoods
On May 5, residents gathered at more than 10 locations around the city during the Freedom Meals. At long tables people ate, listened and talked about what freedom means today. The gatherings were all about connecting and sharing stories, often in a warm and open atmosphere. The photo exhibition Freedom by photographer Jakob Lagerweij also attracted many visitors and brought the theme to life in an accessible and recognizable way.
Music, stories and meeting
The Freedom Concert with Bill Baker at the City Theatre brought emotion and music together in an evening of connection. During the Liberation Festival, all parts of the program came together. Young people presented their Westerbork stories, visitors talked with veterans in the Story House and enjoyed performances in the Burgemeester Vernède Park. The personal encounters gave the festival a special depth.
In late August, the commemoration of the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies was also commemorated with the special film screening Anak. The screening attracted many interested people, especially among older visitors, and provided space for remembrance and encounter.
Freedom lives in Zoetermeer
The 80 Years of Freedom program showed that freedom lives in Zoetermeer. The city reflected on the past, looked ahead to the future and connected generations. With music, art, stories and encounters, freedom was made tangible. The large banner towers in the Stadshart, which served as monuments of remembrance, also literally gave the program a place in the city. Zoetermeer showed that freedom is not only remembered, but also celebrated and passed on.
