More than 41,500 visitors celebrated freedom during the Utrecht Liberation Festival

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UTRECHT > On May 5, Utrecht traditionally celebrated freedom with the Liberation Festival in Park Transwijk and in various places in Utrecht.

During the 29th edition of the festival, the atmosphere was good from the start, with more than 41,500 visitors, sunny spring weather and a whole day full of big names and Utrecht DJs. Utrecht felt like having a festival! From 9:00 am the first Bankzitters fans were at the door, where it was already a party in itself. After opening the gates, fans sprinted to the main stage, where singer FAY kicked off the Sena Performers Stage. With contagious pleasure, FAY immediately set the tone for the festival day. At the Utrecht Bankzitters the field was completely full and you could hear the audience singing and rapping along to all the lyrics. During the performances of CHO, The Cool Quest, Claude, DeWolff, YIN YIN, Rolf Sanchez and closing track ZER00S HEROES, the main stage area remains full and visitors dance and sing along enthusiastically.

Podium for Freedom

On May 5, the Utrecht Liberation Festival was literally and figuratively a stage for freedom. In Park Transwijk, but also in other places, we reflected on our freedom together. With Freedom Walks through the city, Freedom Meals throughout the province, stories and exhibitions about Freedom in the Library and a Talk Show in collaboration with the Freedom College Foundation in TivoliVredenburg. A special moment: Nick Toet, the cook of the Freedom Soup, attended the Freedom Meal in the Neude Library. “There was an atmosphere of dialogue in various places in Utrecht, where visitors really reflected on our freedom, in the midst of all the conflicts worldwide. Here in Kanaleneiland, people of all ages and backgrounds come together, united in celebrating our freedom.” – Director Manja Kerstholt May 5 moment The Ambassador of Freedom, Claude, confirmed this again during the May 5 moment. At 4:55 PM, all fourteen Liberation Festivals – with a total of more than 1 million visitors – reflected on the idea that we live in a country where we can celebrate in freedom and that this is not self-evident.

The Children’s Ambassadors of Freedom – group 8 from De Schakel primary school in Overvecht – had the honor of throwing the large Freedom Inflatable Balls into the audience from the Sena Performers Stage, because, Freedom Pass You On! For Utrecht, by Utrecht In addition to the Sena Performers Podium, visitors could let loose at Utrecht’s program such as BOKS Cultuurhuis, where various DJs and rappers had the opportunity to showcase their talent, the DJs from Stichting Pann and Stranded FM. The Utrecht DJ duo DISKO DISKO had the honor of closing the Freedom Stage, transforming the field into one large disco dance floor! 80 years of Freedom In 2025 it will be 80 years since the Netherlands was liberated. Liberation Festival Utrecht plans to celebrate 80 years of freedom with a special anniversary edition. To celebrate this anniversary edition on a grand scale, Bevrijdingsfestival Utrecht has set up a GoFundMe.