Liberation Day 
[noun]
[de be-vrij-dings-dag, de be-vrij-dings-da-gen]
Wondering why the Dutch national flag has been put out everywhere today? It's Liberation Day: the day that the Netherlands were freed from German occupation: May 5th, 1945. It was the end of World War II in the Netherlands.On May 5th, there are festivities everywhere, and there are a number of so called "bevrijdingsfestivals", which are usually free open air concerts where Dutch pop/rock artists perform before large audiences.
Liberation Day is preceded by "Dodenherdenking" (Remembrance of the Dead), every year on May 4th. Not only the fallen soldiers and victims of the Second World War are remembered, but the Dutch lives lost in every war and peace mission the Netherlands were involved in. During "Dodenherdenking", the flags are flown at half-mast.
(This, and more Dutch words of the day, can be found at this great site. You can sign up for daily emails, too!)
Learn more about Bevrijdingsdag here.
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