RTV Utrecht: Liberation Day

Utrecht – The true die-hards headed out today wearing ponchos to celebrate Liberation Day. The sometimes heavy rain showers didn’t stop people from celebrating freedom at various locations throughout the province. And the good news is: it looks like it will stay dry from now on.

Live report by Ulrike Nagel for RTV Utrecht.

In several locations in the north of the country, Liberation Day festivals were canceled or postponed due to thunderstorms, but in Utrecht, the gates opened as usual at 12:30 p.m., and the first visitors, many wearing boots, stepped onto the field. “Last year there were 37,000 people, and we’re aiming for that number again this year,” says Malou te Wierik of the organizing committee.

The festival nearly had to be canceled, so there was great relief when a financier finally agreed to provide support. “That was due to COVID-19, inflation, and the fact that we depend on revenue from the hospitality industry. The festival is free to the public, and that’s risky,” says Te Wierik. “But this year we’ve been saved, and right now we’re in talks with other festivals and the committee about the future of the Liberation Festival.”

Due to the rain showers that passed over the city yesterday afternoon, there were fewer visitors this year than last year at the Utrecht Liberation Festival in Park Transwijk. However, the organizers note enthusiastically, “After the rain came sunshine: no fewer than 27,000 people still attended the festival.” Last year, the number was 37,000.

The organizers say they are pleased that, “despite an uncertain start, freedom was once again celebrated on a massive scale this year.” There was also a lot of enthusiasm for the cultural program at the Neude Library and TivoliVredenburg, although no visitor numbers were shared for those venues.

For a long time, it was uncertain whether the Liberation Festival could go ahead, due to rising costs caused by factors such as the pandemic and inflation. Because it is a free festival, the organization is entirely dependent on revenue from food and beverage sales. Bad weather can also cause problems, as it leads to lower attendance. The festival was even canceled, but was able to go ahead thanks to a financial backer.

To secure the festival’s future, a crowdfunding campaign has been launched. The Liberation Festivals throughout the Netherlands are already in discussions with one another and with the May 5 Committee about how to move forward in the future, spokesperson Malou te Wierik announced yesterday.

The festival began with rain, but that didn’t seem to bother the first visitors who arrived at 12:30 p.m. Indie-rock collective Personal Trainer kicked things off on the main stage. This year, the Liberation Fire was lit by Ukrainian Anna Bieliaieva (32), the organizer of the commemoration at the Jaarbeurs marking the Russian invasion of Ukraine. By 4:30 p.m., the rain had stopped, and the grounds quickly filled up for Snelle and De Lieve Jongens Band. Utrecht-based singer-songwriter and Ambassador of Freedom MEAU closed out the festival. From the very start of the festival, it was a party on the Freedom Stage with various hip-hop acts and DJs. This stage was made possible this year thanks to the proceeds from the crowdfunding campaign.

Reporter, RTV Utrecht

Ulrike Nagel