Tips for Liberation Day 2026
Join us for a Freedom Meal
On Liberation Day, special Freedom Meals are scheduled across Amsterdam. From community centres and squares to cultural venues, these are moments where people come together to eat and engage in conversations, a reminder that Liberation Day is not only about celebration but also about reflecting on what freedom means. During a Freedom Meal, meet neighbours, friends, and strangers and share stories – some meals are free, while others require you to bring something or make a small contribution.
Make or taste the Freedom Soup
Liberty Soup has now become a firm tradition on Liberation Day. In 2020, when communal eating on May 5th was not possible due to COVID-19, the Amsterdam 4 and 5 May Committee, together with chef Joris Bijdendijk and Samuel Levie, developed a soup that could still bring people together at home. Since then, the vegan soup has grown into a national tradition. Each year, a different chef shares their personal story through the recipe, with Janny van der Heijden taking over in 2026. You can taste the soup during Liberation Meals or make it yourself at home.
Liberation Festivals
Celebrate freedom at The Free West
The Free West is one of Amsterdam's most well-known liberation festivals. In Westerpark, it is all about music, gathering, and celebrating freedom together outdoors. Here, you can enjoy a wide program with live music, DJs, and performances across multiple stages. The atmosphere is lively, but there is also space for stories and reflection, making this festival a good fit with the meaning of May 5th.
- The Free West | Tuesday 5 May, 14:00 – 23:00 | Westerpark | free entry
Go to The Amsterdam Association at the Olympic Stadium
At The Amsterdam Association, the energy of Amsterdam's nightlife comes together at the Olympic Stadium. This festival feels big and city-centric, with various stages, clubs, and collectives presenting a wide mix of music. From well-known names to new sounds from the city: this is a great choice if you want to celebrate Liberation Day in a lively festival atmosphere with plenty of energy and an enthusiastic crowd. Check out the line-up.
- The Amsterdam Union | Tuesday 5th May, from 12:00 | Olympic Stadium | from €59.90
On Museumplein during the Liberation Dance Festival
At Museumplein, freedom is celebrated through dance, music, and gathering during the Liberation Dance Festival. The day begins with a Freedom Meal in the Rijksmuseum garden, followed by a diverse programme featuring performances, workshops, and a silent disco. From ballroom and Bollywood to Cuban rhythms and contemporary dance: this festival invites you to watch, participate and move together in the heart of the city.
- Liberation Day Festival | Tuesday 5th May, 14:00 – 21:00 | Museumplein | free admission
Liberation Day in Southeast at ZO is Free
At Anton de Komplein, Liberation Day also takes on a unique character outside the city centre. This festival in Amsterdam-Zuidoost brings together music, art, food, and community in a programme featuring live performances, workshops, a freedom market, and activities related to citizenship and liberty. The strong focus on local entrepreneurs, inclusivity, and community spirit gives the festival its own atmosphere and makes it a meaningful celebration in the neighbourhood.
- ZO is Vrij | Tuesday 5 May, 14:00 – 21:00 | Anton De Komplein | free entry
Celebrate Freedom at Bevrijdingspop Haarlem
Just outside the city, there is a great festival tip. Bevrijdingspop Haarlem is one of the most well-known liberation festivals in the Netherlands and attracts many visitors from the Amsterdam area every year. In 2026, artists such as DI-RECT, Bankzitters, Karsu, S10, and Hannah Mae will be performing – a good choice if you're looking for a large, free music festival close to Amsterdam.
- Bevrijdingspop | Tuesday, 5th May | Haarlem | free entry
Activities for the whole family
There is plenty to do for families on 5th May. At the Stedelijk Museum, there is a family tour with a Freedom Edition, at Zeeslag Playground there is a family-friendly festival, and at the National Holocaust Museum, there is the youth performance Virus of the Mind. Additionally, many Freedom Meals and neighbourhood programmes are suitable to visit together with children.
Choose a walk or a guided tour
A walk or guided tour offers a different perspective on reflecting on Amsterdam: as a city of memories, traces, and personal histories. Along the way, you will hear stories about the war, the resistance, and liberation, often in places you pass daily without knowing what happened there. In this listening walk in ARTIS during wartime (in both Dutch and English on the weekend) you can discover how a well-known Amsterdam location tells a completely different story during wartime. For Dutch speakers, the Story Walk in Oost connects personal memories of the neighbourhood with the history of the war and the period immediately after liberation. And in following in the footsteps of Etty Hillesum through Amsterdam South, you walk through Etty Hillesum’s world and at the same time gain an evocative insight into Jewish Amsterdam during wartime.
Closing Concert on the Amstel
The day traditionally concludes with the free Concert on the Amstel. This open-air concert on the Amstel has been a regular ending to Liberation Day for years and attracts a wide audience – even the royal family is also traditionally present.
- Concert on the Amstel | Tuesday 5 May, 21:00 - 22:30 | Amstel | free entry