Liberation Day marks the end of Nazi occupation in 1945, when Germany surrendered to Canadian forces in Wageningen. The mood shifts from mourning to celebration — freedom festivals, concerts, and vrijheidsmaaltijden (freedom meals) take place across the country. Every five years (2025, 2030...) it is a national public holiday; in other years it is a working day but the festivities still happen. The festivals are free, welcoming, and genuinely joyful — a great way to understand something important about Dutch national identity.