On May 4 and 5 and August 15, remembrance and freedom take center stage at Den Helder. Especially in this city, those days feel close. Den Helder was hit hard during the Second World War. That history is still connected to the city.
At the same time, Den Helder does not just look back. Freedom, peace, and security are tangible themes here even now. The city is working on safety in places where freedom is not a given. In doing so, the significance of May 4 and 5 and August 15 takes on an extra layer here.
Together with residents and organizations, this period takes shape every year in Den Helder through commemorations, gatherings, and activities. In this way, the meaning of freedom remains visible in the city for everyone who wishes to reflect, participate, or look ahead. View the agenda for the program in Den Helder.
On August 15, Den Helder commemorates the end of the Second World War for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. We also remember all the victims of the war against Japan and the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies.
This history continues to have an impact. In many families, the stories, memories, and consequences of war and displacement live on. That is precisely why this commemoration remains significant.
Mayor's speech at the commemoration of war victims on 4 May 2026. At the Den Vaderlant Getrouwe monument.
The Peace Now poster is also available in Den Helder. Max Kisman's powerful black and white design calls for peace and invites dialogue. Especially in a time of war and polarization, this image sends a clear and human signal.
You can pick up the poster for free at the Tourist Information Point at Willemsoord. Hang it in your window, take it with you, or visibly express your wish for peace with this small gesture.
During the commemoration on May 4, the city poet of Den Helder recites a poem every year. With moving words, the city poet gives voice to remembrance, loss, and freedom. Each year, the poem forms a special moment within the commemoration and invites reflection on what May 4 means to Den Helder.
Since May 2025, Den Helder has had an official Anne Frank tree in the Koningsdriehoek, near Prins Hendriklaan and Koningsplein. This white horse chestnut is a descendant of the famous tree that Anne Frank saw from the Secret Annex and about which she wrote in her diary.
The tree is a living monument to freedom, solidarity, and the memory of the persecution of the Jews. On May 4, 2025, in the year in which the Netherlands celebrated 80 years of freedom, the mayor and the children's mayor unveiled the tree. A memorial plaque stands by the tree explaining its historical significance.
In late August 1945, Den Helder celebrated the liberation on a grand scale with commemorations, parades, and festivities throughout the city.
As a maritime city, Den Helder was a major target, with significant consequences for the port, the city, and its inhabitants.
Discover how the war has permanently scarred the dike, the dunes, and the city.
A remarkable war story about courage, preservation, and returned bells.
Discover the traces of war in a city full of stories
Stichting 4 en 5 mei Den Helder organizes and coordinates the local commemorations and celebrations surrounding May 4 and 5. Stichting 15 augustus herdenking organizes the annual commemoration on August 15. Our goal is to keep alive the memory of the Second World War, the war in the former Dutch East Indies, and the wars and peace missions since then. We commemorate the victims, reflect on the meaning of freedom and peace, and connect young and old through education and local events, so that freedom is never taken for granted.
What we aim for:
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May 4 and 5 Board:
Bas Ouwens: Treasurer
Petra Clowting: Secretary
Carel-Vincent van de Graaff: Member
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