Eerste Kamervoorzitter Mei Li Vos and Tweede Kamervoorzitter Thom van Campen laid a wreath on Friday, August 14, at the Indisch Plaquette inside the House of Representatives building to honor all victims of World War II in the former Dutch East Indies. According to Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal, the solemn annual gathering marks the beginning of nationwide commemorations recognizing the lives lost during the Japanese occupation and the subsequent end of the war in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The annual commemoration on August 14 brings together parliamentary leaders, lawmakers, and community representatives for a closed-door ceremony organized by the Stichting Herdenking 15 Augustus 1945. Paul Doop, chairman of the foundation, delivered an opening address during the proceedings. Tweede Kamervoorzitter Thom van Campen also addressed the attendees, highlighting the weight of personal histories shaped by the conflict. “Ieder heeft een eigen familieverhaal. Soms vullen zij elkaar aan. Soms schuren zij,” Van Campen said, as reported by Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal. He added that sharing these stories across generations ensures that the past remains a source of insight and that no one carries that historical burden alone.
Following the parliamentary addresses, Edje Zorgdrager spoke to the gathering. Zorgdrager shared personal memories of surviving a Japanese internment camp as a child. The ceremony at the plaque concluded with a minute of silence and a traditional defilé. The bronze memorial plaque itself was originally unveiled on August 15, 1985, and currently stands in the hall of the temporary House of Representatives building on Bezuidenhoutseweg while the historic Binnenhof undergoes extensive renovations. Once renovations finish, the monument will return to its permanent home.
National Commemoration at the Indisch Monument
The sequence of remembrance continues on Saturday, August 15, at the Indisch Monument in The Hague, where the national commemoration takes place. According to Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal, both the President of the Senate and the President of the House of Representatives will lay a joint wreath on behalf of the States General. The ceremony pays tribute to all fallen victims of the war against Japan and the occupation of the former Dutch East Indies, marking the official conclusion of World War II across the entire kingdom.
During the national gathering in The Hague, Eerste Kamervoorzitter Mei Li Vos is scheduled to read the poem “Er leven haast geen mensen meer.” The outdoor ceremony invites the public and dignitaries to reflect on the immense human cost of the Pacific War. The gathering concludes with a formal defilé past the monument, offering participants an opportunity to pay their respects directly.
Historical Context and Memorial Significance
The Indisch Plaquette and the Indisch Monument serve as central focal points for acknowledging a chapter of World War II that deeply impacted hundreds of thousands of civilians and military personnel in Southeast Asia. The Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies in early 1942 led to the internment of the civilian Dutch population and Allied troops in harsh camps, resulting in widespread suffering, forced labor, and significant loss of life.
Next Steps in National Remembrance
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