Great Church Holds Record-Breaking Liberation Lunch
On May 5, residents and city visitors gathered at The Great Church of The Hague to celebrate Liberation Day with the country’s largest Liberation lunch. This is more than just a celebration, it is also a powerful symbol of hope and unity. Due to the weather forecast, the event was moved to the beautiful Great Church, but it was a great success.
Like last year, the Hague Liberation Luncheon was the largest in the country. A total of 530 people attended the event. The number of participants, including artists, staff and more than 50 volunteers, easily surpassed his 600. Men and women of all ages sat at the table from all parts and districts of the city, as well as visitors from further afield. The festive afternoon was kicked off by The Hague Mayor Jan van Zanen and TV chef London Roy, who created the recipe for this year’s Liberation Soup. Not to be missed is the cultural music program organized by the Den He Hague Stichting his Museum Quartier, featuring his eight talented music and art artists with a focus on young talent. .
A performance that touched and moved the audience
Presenter Francis Burghuisen was the perfect master of ceremonies for this dynamic and moving event. Among the talented artists was LILO, a singer-songwriter and performer from The Hague. They captivated the audience with their warm, jazzy sound and sincere lyrics. Spoken word artist Daniel Zawadi and 14-year-old city poet Chelsea Valentina hushed the entire church. Known for Percossa, his duo, Freak + Eric, brought cutlery with the lunch guests to make a tune and get everyone excited before Dario For and accordionist Rob Brecht van his Kauwenberge choir. A final performance with the eccentric theater troupe Clapstack followed. DJ Ginger Ale brought thousands of people of all ages up the table and dancing together for the ultimate in liberation.
“It is wonderful that so many people have come together to celebrate our freedom and think about its true meaning. It has once again proven to be a great opportunity to promote the arts,” said Marcel Westerdip, Chairman of the Quartier Foundation of the Museum of Fine Arts in The Hague. “We hope this event will inspire further efforts to promote a sense of community and mutual respect.”
From delicious soups to Persian frittatas
In addition to Liberation soup, guests were also served a variety of dishes including Persian kuk sabzi, a frittata with a twist, two salads and two snacks. As for side dishes, a contest was held among city residents a few weeks before the event. Soups and all winning side dishes were prepared and served by participating kitchens.
The Liberation Lunch was an event that perfectly reflected the spirit of freedom and solidarity that characterizes the Netherlands. It was a day that left a lasting impression on everyone who attended. Don’t miss next year’s Liberation Ranch. Based on our experience this year and the year before, it will definitely be an event to look forward to.
https://www.thehagueonline.com/news/2023/05/08/grote-kerk-hosts-record-braking-liberation-lunch Great Church Holds Record-Breaking Liberation Lunch