The word slachtoffer means “victim” or “casualty.”
On 4 May, the Dutch commemorate the casualties since World War II. The 4 May date was chosen because 5 May is Liberation Day, the anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands on 5 May 1945. We commemorate before we celebrate.
Two years ago, I was at the National Genealogical Society conference in Grand Rapids on 4 May. You can read the speech I gave at the banquet to jointly commemorate the victims.
Commemoration of the dead in Amsterdam. Jac. de Nijs, 1965. Image credits: Nationaal Archief (CC-BY-SA)
About Yvette Hoitink
