Dear friends,

In the Netherlands May 4 is remembrance day, the eve of liberation day when the country was completely freed of German occupation by English, Canadian, American, Polish and Dutch forces.
The Polish and Dutch forces may surprise you but during the occupation many young Dutchmen escaped across the North sea and trained to fight. Many Polish lads made their way to the UK as well via various routes and fought alongside the English. Also, the south of the Netherlands was liberated almost a year before the north giving southern lads the opportunity and incentive to fight.
On May 4 the national flag is flown half mast from all official buildings and many private houses. The orange pennant must be omitted for this occasion as it is for Royal family occasions only. Most churches will be ringing a single bell from 19:45 till 19:59 and at 20:00 is the time for the two minutes silence. After the silence the flag is raised to full until sunset. On 5 May the flag is raised again in celebration, without the pennant, and the celebrations begin.

The picture today is of the climbing rose we bought several years ago and feels quite at home, mixed with the Wisteria next to it. It’s called Maigold and always flowers early May.

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

Notes-20250504.pdf

Weekly Notes
Readings-20250504.pdf