December 27, 2021
18 September What happened in Eindhoven?
18 September!!! What happened in Eindhoven?
Surely for us last weekend we were reading, watching different events in the city. But did you know or what was going on. The city center had several events, the mayor of the city was speaking ....
On 18 September 1944, Eindhoven was liberated by the Allied forces as one of the first cities in the Netherlands. It was not until 5 May 1945 that the Netherlands was completely liberated. Therefore, 5 May is celebrated annually as Liberation Day in the Netherlands. As the only city in the Netherlands, Eindhoven still celebrates 18 September as its Liberation Day. It is celebrated annually with various activities, one of which is the Route of Light.
This year the ceremony at Stadhuisplein started at 19:30. The torch of the fire of liberation was picked up this year for the seventy-fifth time by cyclists from Eindhoven in the French city of Bayeux. Shortly before the flames were lit, historic EATC aircraft performed a military salute of honor with a so-called "fly-by". Mayor John Jorritsma laid a wreath at the liberation monument on behalf of the inhabitants of Eindhoven. Afterward, a minute's silence was observed in memory of the almost 1,100 inhabitants of Eindhoven who died during the Second World War and the allied soldiers who died during the liberation of our city.
The annual commemoration at the Airborne monument of the American and British soldiers who died during the liberation of Eindhoven did not take place this year. Deputy Mayor Rik Thijs, together with the chairman of the Foundation 18 September, laid a wreath at the war memorial on the Airbornelaan, as did the Friends of the Airborn Association, who also laid flowers.
On 18 September, Liberation Day, the Route of Light 2021 also started as usual. The lights will be on from 18 September to 10 October. From Sunday to Thursday they will be on from 19:00 to 22:30 and on Fridays and Saturdays from 19:00 to 23:30. A large part of the decorations is only lit when the lanterns are switched on (at the latest at 20:00).