Activities agenda

The students of grade 3 from VMBO TL, HAVO, and VWO at Ichthus College in Dronten are participating in a poetry competition this week. After attending a guest lecture organized by the 4 May Commemoration Foundation Dronten in collaboration with the Veterans Foundation Municipality of Dronten, the students will write a poem based on the annual theme of the National Committee 4 and 5 May: "Freedom Speaks." Ten poems will be nominated, and a jury will select the winning poem, which will be recited during the commemoration on May 4 at Meerpaalplein in Dronten.

On Monday, April 7, the adoption transfer of the Vliegersmonument will take place. Primary school De Dukdalf from Dronten will hand over the responsibility to primary school De Brandaris, also from Dronten. Representatives from grade 7 of primary schools in the municipality of Dronten are invited to attend. The event will include a speech and discussion with Mayor Gebben. Gert Talens will share the story of Kitchen and Williamson, one of the aircraft found near the Vossemeerdijk. Tjerk Zwanenburg, son of former recovery officer Gerrit Zwanenburg, will talk about his father’s work and showcase items discovered during the aircraft recoveries.

On Wednesday afternoon, April 16, the Zuiderzee Swimmers (ZZZ) will organize the annual swimming competition for the Airgunner Trophy. Grade 8 students from primary schools in the municipality of Dronten are invited to participate.

The stage adaptation of Harry Mulisch's bestselling novel The Assault will be performed at De Meerpaal. A gripping and intense story about guilt, responsibility, and the lasting impact of war memories.

Etty Hillesum was a young Jewish woman, born in 1914. During World War II, she wrote diaries about her personal experiences. She fought against the threats that aimed at her destruction. These diaries were rediscovered 40 years later. Her literary talent, unwavering belief in humanity, and radical ethics make her diaries rare documents. This one-act play summarizes her diaries and will be performed by four members of the Vrijzinnige Geloofsgemeenschap Flevoland (VGF), with musical accompaniment from three members (piano, violin, and clarinet).

William Ward, one of the crew members of the Lancaster ED 357 (from the Vliegersmonument), used to attend Stewart's Melville College. Since 2019, there has been contact with this school. Since November 2022, an exchange has been taking place between students of Almere College in Dronten and students from this school in Edinburgh. This week, students from Stewart's Melville College will visit Dronten for the third consecutive year.

Based on the national committee 4 and 5 May theme "Freedom Speaks," this event will explore the theme in a varied and dignified manner. This year marks the 80th anniversary of our freedom. In 8 segments, each representing a decade, people of different ages will share what freedom means to them and what they want to pass on to others.

There will be a dance performance by the De Meerpaal Dance School and musical contributions from the Theater School Karakter at De Meerpaal. There will also be contributions from local schools and the Veterans Foundation Municipality of Dronten. Marleen Vos will guide the audience through the program.

Invited guests are welcome from 4:00 PM at De Meerpaal to attend the program for May 4:

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Arrival

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM: Program for invited guests and dinner

6:00 PM - 7:15 PM: Remembrance ceremony

7:30 PM - 8:30 PM: Commemoration at the Meerpaalplein

The ceremony will take place at Meerpaalplein. There will be a speech by Mayor Gebben and a poem by a student from the Ichthus College. After the Last Post, the two-minute silence, and the national anthems, wreaths will be laid at the monument. The ceremony will feature contributions from the Flevo-Scouts, the Flevo Men’s Choir, Maris Sonores, and the Harmonie De Eendracht. Omroep Flevoland will broadcast the remembrance. Veterans and active-duty military personnel from the municipality of Dronten will be present. Around 8:10 PM, Tom van der Meulen will fly over in a Mustang. Around 8:25 PM, the Edambusters will perform. A large screen will be set up for those who wish to watch from a distance.

In various locations and in different ways, the freedom soup will be served in the municipality of Dronten. More information will follow.

In November, students from Almere College and board members of the Stichting 4 Mei Herdenking Dronten will travel to Edinburgh. They will attend the Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11 at Stewarts Melville College. This will be the fourth time for this event. Further information will follow.

At the intersection of Lancasterdreef and De Zuid in Dronten, there is a monument dedicated to the crew of the Lancaster ED357. On Christmas Eve, candles will be lit at this location, as well as at many other places. This event is organized by the Stichting Veteranen municipality of Dronten, in collaboration with the Flevo-Scouts, who will bring the Peace Light. The candles will be lit with the Peace Light, one for each crew member. The streets surrounding the monument are named after the crew members.