On 10th May, 2020, the Netherlands marks eighty years since the country was drawn into the Second World War.

Early in the morning on 10th May, 1940, Hitler’s troops invaded the Netherlands. One of their goals was to capture The Hague, the seat of government. After an airborne attack, they managed to capture the three airports around the Hague: Ypenburg, Ockenburg, and Valkenburg. However, the Dutch launched a counter attack in Ypenburg and managed to recapture the airport, in spite of being heavily outnumbered and lacking in equipment.

In the Battle of Ypenburg, near the Hague, around one hundred Dutch soldiers were killed as they recaptured airport at Ypenburg from invading troops. Around one hundred Dutch soldiers died in the attempt, and the airport buildings were destroyed. This victory gave enough time for Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Bernhard, and senior members of the Dutch government, to escape to England.

The Battle of Ypenburg is commemorated every year on 10th May. Emma has been invited to sing at the ceremony, which will be broadcast on the Dutch television channel SBS6 on “Hart van Nederland.”

The ceremony is held at the Ypenburg Monument, which has the inscription “Attacked but not defeated.”

Sunday, 10th May, 14:00, live on SBS6 from the Ypenburg Monument in The Hague, the Netherlands.

On 5th May, 2020, the Dutch celebrate seventy-five years of liberation since the Second World War. Together with guitarist Luc Groen, pianist Huub de Vriend, and the Rev. Margreet Klokke, Emma will participate in a live broadcast for Dutch liberation day.

One of the most famous Dutch citizens of the Second World War was a young girl called Anne Frank. Whilst in hiding in the secret annex, she wrote in her diary that she wanted to become a writer. She is now one of the most internationally-read Dutch writers. Alas, she did not live to know this: she died in Bergen Belsen in 1944.

Anne Frank lived in a much more severe lockdown. In spite of this, she found some sense of inner freedom.

The Rev. Margreet Klokke has organized a beautiful programme about Anne Frank and her diary, including readings by Dutch girls of the same age.

The programme will be streamed on www.sleutelstad.tv at 13:10 on Tuesday, 5th May.

Please note, the main spoken language will be Dutch.