The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, together with the National Park Service, George Washington Memorial Parkway, invite you to the second annual Freedom Concert – a celebration of the Dutch-American friendship and the power of freedom through music, dance, and the spoken word.
May 10, 2023 | 4:00-6:00pm
Netherlands Carillon
Arlington Ridge Park
Arlington, Virginia 22209
This special event will feature the beautiful sounds of the Netherlands Carillon, the 127-foot-tall instrument with 53 bells that looks out over the Washington Mall. Enjoy the exceptional talent of carillonists Edward Nassor (United States) and Rosemarie Seuntiëns (The Netherlands), combined with a unique outdoor dance performance of the Washington School of Ballet (Choreographer: Mimmo Miccolis). Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands will be the featured guest speaker. Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of this unforgettable experience.
About the Netherlands Carillon & Liberation Day
The people of the Netherlands gave the carillon to the people of the United States in 1952 to thank America for liberating the Netherlands during World War II and helping rebuild the Dutch economy through the Marshall Plan. The 127-foot-tall musical instrument was installed at its current location in Arlington, Virginia, in 1960, overlooking Washington, D.C.
Each year on May 5, the Netherlands celebrates Liberation Day, or the restoration of its freedom in 1945. It is therefore on or around this day that the embassy will present an annual “Freedom Concert” to celebrate our freedom and friendship with a selection of arrangements played by American and Dutch artists.
Arriving & Attending
The Netherlands Carillon stands in Arlington Ridge Park near the Iwo Jima Memorial (United States Marine Corps War Memorial) and Arlington National Cemetery. Guests may arrive by car, although adjacent parking is limited. Public transportation is limited. The carillon is a 10- to 15-minute walk from either the Rosslyn or Arlington National Cemetery Metro stations.
This event is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is appreciated. Guests are invited to RSVP through the embassy.
The concert will be held outdoors and guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair to set up near the Netherlands Carillon. A limited number of reserved chairs will be made available for older guests.
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