Interview with Brabant Remembers Programme Director, Caroline Belt

What are the key events and activities that Brabant Remembers have planned for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Brabant and the Netherlands? 

“Brabant: Bridge to Freedom" is the name of the extensive program with which Brabant will commemorate 80 years of freedom from September 2024 to May 2025. This theme carries a double meaning. Physical bridges literally become the stage in the program, but a bridge also symbolizes the connection between people, places, generations, and time. Locally, numerous activities are organised with dedicated volunteers, municipalities, and other organisations. We are organising some events ourselves and collaborating on fantastic initiatives. 

• Achter de Horizon (Behind the Horizon): One of the main projects of Brabant Remembers is the theatrical performance "Behind the Horizon." The opening takes place at the historic site of Dropzone A of Operation Market Garden in Meierijstad on September 13, 2024. Afterwards, it will travel throughout the province between March and May 2025. The performance explores peace and freedom within a historical framework from six timeless perspectives: the liberator, the sceptic, the woman, the refugee, the young person, and the bridge-builder. In this way, it offers a multifaceted perspective on (un)freedom and makes history vivid and relevant for an audience of all generations. 

• Wandelestafette Vrijheidspad (Relay Walk Freedom Path): In September, the walking relay "The Freedom Path" will take place. The Freedom Path is a unifying event that crosses provincial borders. It creates a sense of connection between the provinces of Limburg, North-Brabant, and Gelderland and tells our collective story of the liberation of the southern Netherlands. We connect various activities and commemorations along the route of Operation Market Garden. This way, we increase the involvement of residents and create awareness among a broad audience. 

• Vrijheidsmonologen (Freedom Monologues): A program component that started on May 5, 2024, which will have a grand finale on May 5, 2025, is "The Freedom Monologues." Word artists join various freedom meals and engage in conversations about what (un)freedom means to the participants. They process these conversations into a mini performance. On May 5, 2025, all word artists will come together to perform their creations during the Liberation Festival Brabant in 's-Hertogenbosch. 

This is just a glimpse of the extensive program of Brabant Remembers, as, in addition to these visitable activities, Brabant Remembers is also continuously seeking new WWII stories in collaboration with Tilburg University and Erfgoed Brabant. In September, Brabant Remembers will even launch a comic titled “De Erfenis” (“the Legacy”). In this way, Brabant Remembers aims to make the commemoration and celebration of 80 years of freedom accessible to everyone with a broad program. 

How does Brabant Remembers plan to engage younger generations in the commemoration activities? Why do you think this is important? 

There are practically no eyewitnesses left from World War II. For younger generations, the distance to this shared history is growing ever larger. Meanwhile, war is closer than ever before with war on European soil and horrific images of conflicts reaching us daily via our phones. The distance from World War II is increasing, yet the social discourse about peace and freedom is more relevant than ever. This underlines the importance of involving younger generations in the commemoration activities. By continuing to tell the stories from that time as precious testimonies of an era that forever changed the world, we remind ourselves why peace, justice, and preventing such horrors are essential for our future. 

Brabant Remembers actively engages in involving young people. The project Studio Herinner is an ultimate example of this. This project is run by and for young people. They engage in conversations about "What do memories of (un)freedom mean to you?" The youngsters come together during workshops where they, together with artists, create artistic forms of these memories. Art stimulates the imagination and brings stories to life. All results from the workshops will be gathered in an art installation named “Het Geheugen” (The Memory), which will be exhibited publicly to a broad audience. In this way, we hope to help young people from North Brabant experience the value of peace and give them an active role in shaping the commemoration and celebration in the future. 

Can you share specific stories or highlights that will be featured during the anniversary events to honour the memories of the liberation? 

Personal, life-changing war stories always form the fundament of Brabant Remembers' program. For example, all participants in the Freedom Path event are invited to select a personal WWII story that they carry with them during the journey; an overview of these stories can be found on this website. Participants can also contribute their own stories about peace and freedom that they want to showcase. This allows for the inclusion of not only the stories from the past but also more recent stories. Such as stories of intergenerational trauma and the impact of war within families. We also see a shift emerging: not only are the stories from the past told, but the importance and relevance of these stories for people today are central. 

Brabant Remembers offers an impressive array of innovative and interactive activities related to the memory of World War II. Do you have suggestions for other regions, cities, or organizations looking to introduce new ways of commemoration in their cultural programs? 

It's a difficult question since there are already many partners organizing great innovative and interactive projects. Nonetheless, I would offer the following suggestions: 

• Seek collaboration with other sectors outside the heritage sector. For example, invite creatives and makers from the cultural sector to contribute to developing new forms for presenting stories from the past and engaging with the audience. 

• Include new target groups and do not be afraid to think outside the box and let go of control. Also, realize that not everyone today has automatic knowledge about World War II or a personal connection to the stories from that time. 

• Don’t just recount historical events; actively connect them to present-day issues. This helps people relate to the past and recognize its relevance today. While it's crucial to continue sharing historical stories, it's also important to focus on how these stories reflect current universal values of freedom. By doing so, we can apply the lessons of WWII to today’s society. 

What would you like to share with potential visitors? Are there any particular locations or commemorations you would recommend? 

I would very much recommend visiting the WWII heritage sites in Brabant throughout the year: 

• National Monument Camp Vught: A former SS concentration camp that now houses a visitors' centre with exhibitions and a memorial commemorating the camp and its victims. 

• War Museum Overloon: The largest and oldest (opened in 1946) WWII museum in Western Europe, covering topics such as oppression, food shortages, and resistance during the occupation. 

• Wings of Liberation: This museum in Best features an extensive collection of military aircraft and vehicles. It tells the story of Operation Market Garden. 

• Canadian War Cemetery Bergen op Zoom: This is the final resting place of Canadian soldiers who lost their lives, among others, during the Battle of the Scheldt. 

• Maczek Memorial Breda: A unique memorial centre that tells the story of the 1st Polish Armoured Division. The centre is named after General Stanisław Maczek, the Polish general whose troops managed to liberate the city with little to no civilian casualties. 

Additionally, many activities are organised throughout North Brabant in September, October, and May to commemorate and celebrate our freedom. This includes the gravel bike tour Operation Pheasant, which will take place at various locations in Brabant, the unique outdoor theatre piece "Tweestrijd" (Conflict) in Bergen op Zoom, and the Freedom Run – Liberty Loop in Eindhoven. You can find a complete overview of all activities at europeremembers.com/brabant or brabantherinnert.nl.