AMSTERDAM – This year's May 4th Remembrance Day (Dodenherdenking) ceremony at the Homomonument will take on a significant international dimension. For the first time, the event will feature an international speaker: Viktória Radványi, the chair of Budapest Pride. Her presence underscores the ceremony's core message—that the fight for freedom is not confined to history but is an ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ communities across Europe. She will speak between 18:30 and 19:30 uur in Westerkerk.
The annual commemoration honours the queer victims of the Second World War and all individuals persecuted for their sexual orientation or gender identity. Pim Nugteren, serving again as the master of ceremonies, emphasized the importance of connecting the past with the present, speaking to AT5.
"I was privileged to grow up with my grandmother, who lived through the war and shared her stories. But the current generation doesn't have that direct connection," Nugteren explained. He stressed the responsibility to keep these memories alive, particularly as hard-won freedoms are being challenged elsewhere.
A Bridge Between Past and Present Struggles
Nugteren pointed to recent events in Hungary as a stark reminder that progress can be reversed. The Hungarian government's attempts to ban Pride events in Budapest last summer were met with a powerful response.
"As a counter-reaction, some 300,000 people from all over the world came together, making it the largest protest in Hungarian history," he noted. "It was a clear sign that the LGBTQ+ community cannot simply be suppressed."
The inclusion of Radványi as a speaker directly links Amsterdam's act of remembrance with the active resistance against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in countries like Hungary. It serves as a moment of both reflection and solidarity.
"Pride for me means not only being able to be who I am in the here and now, but also the reassurance that I can live the rest of my life in that same freedom."
For Nugteren, the ceremony is about honouring what was lost to ensure it is never lost again. "By pausing on May 4th to reflect on what was, we want to emphasize what is at stake: the freedom to be who you are, today, tomorrow, and in the future," he said.
Event Details: Lecture and Silent March
The evening's programme, organised in collaboration with the Amsterdam 4 and 5 May committee, includes a lecture and the traditional silent march.
- 18:30 - 19:30: Lecture by Viktória Radványi at the Westerkerk, discussing the deteriorating position of queer people in Hungary.
- 19:50: The Silent March departs from the Westerkerk, proceeding to the Homomonument for the commemoration ceremony.
More information can be found on the official 4 en 5 mei Amsterdam website.
