The organization of the Remembrance Day at Camp Westerbork Remembrance Center, together with the municipality and the police, keeps a close eye on whether safety measures need to be taken on May 4. Other organizations in Drenthe and Groningen are also on alert. ‘At this time there is no reason to take additional measures.’
Increased social tensions as a result of global conflicts and the fear of disturbances have led to additional measures during the national commemoration of the dead in Amsterdam.
Anyone who wants to attend the National Remembrance Day on Dam Square in Amsterdam on May 4 had to register in advance. This halves the number of people present at the commemoration to 10,000. Visitors are also searched in advance, including for flags, flagpoles and sound-amplifying equipment.
Camp Westerbork, where around 4,000 people attended Remembrance Day last year, has not yet taken any safety measures for the meeting on Saturday.
Daily monitoring
According to spokesperson Joost Tanasale, the situation is monitored daily. “Together with the municipality and the police, we keep a close eye on what is happening in the area and nationally, but at the moment there is no reason to take additional measures and the commemoration will therefore proceed normally.”
Tanasale says he notices that the upcoming commemoration is taking place in a turbulent, polarized time. “Just look at the news. It’s a very strange time, especially for Holocaust survivors and relatives.”
According to Tanasale, it makes it even more important to commemorate now, to be silent for two minutes and to reflect on the events of the Second World War.
This year the last transports from Camp Westerbork are central during the commemoration of the dead. On September 13, 1944, the last mass transport with the group of ‘unknown children’ left the camp. One of them was Marita Simons-Deen, who will give the reflection on May 4.
‘We are alert’
The municipality of Groningen also does not take any special public measures regarding the commemoration of death in the city. “We are alert and take measures based on the situation,” says spokesperson Hans Coenraads. “There are currently no indications or signals of people who want to disrupt the commemoration.”
Behind the scenes, the municipality and police monitor statements on social media that may indicate something. “We assume that we can organize a nice commemoration without disruptions.”
The municipal council of Oldambt also sees no reason to take additional measures surrounding the May 4 commemoration in Winschoten. “We have received absolutely no signals that anything is in the pipeline,” says Mayor Cora-Yfke Sikkema.
Extra eye on things
Since the outbreak of war in the Middle East, the police have kept an extra eye on the Jewish cemetery in the city and the synagogue. This no longer serves as a prayer and community space for religious gatherings. The synagogue is privately owned.
While the officers on duty normally always gather at the station during the two minutes of silence, they will now be present at the war memorial at Zuiderveen. A number of administrative representatives from the German neighboring municipalities of Papenburg, Weener and Leer are also present.
The municipality of Hoogeveen, where the war victims will be remembered at three different locations on May 4, has also not taken any additional safety measures. “We have no indications of possible disturbances,” said a spokeswoman for the organization.
Special investigating officers (boas) are present at the commemorations. “But that is no different than in previous years.”
‘No problem’
The organization says it is aware of the increased polarization and tensions in society and the possible effects on commemorations. “But we have no concerns about good and respectful conduct in our municipality.”
Tags: Tensions surrounding commemorations dead organizers Drenthe Groningen edge
