Freedom of Choice: Six Outdoor Exhibitions Featuring Personal Stories from World War II

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This year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands. To mark this special milestone, the Keuze Vrijheid project will open on April 10, 2025, featuring a series of six outdoor exhibitions in six different locations in the Rivierengebied region: Bemmel, Elst, Ommeren, Opheusden, Tiel, and Wamel. Keuze Vrijheid brings poignant personal stories from World War II to life.

During the war years, the Rivierengebied was the scene of fierce fighting, difficult choices, and great uncertainty. Behind every choice lay a story: of courage and resistance, of survival and loss, of cooperation and trust. *Keuze Vrijheid* gives a voice to residents from that era and places their experiences in a contemporary context.

Six locations with personal stories.

Each outdoor exhibition focuses on the personal stories of local residents, told through images, text, and historical sources. Visitors are immersed in the dilemmas faced by residents during wartime and are given the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of freedom and the choices we face today.

Opening on April 10, 2025

The official opening of Keuze Vrijheid will take place on April 10, 2025. All six locations will open on that day, starting in Tiel. During the opening, speakers, family members, and other stakeholders will put the stories of that time into perspective. Following the opening, the exhibitions will remain open to the public free of charge for the coming years.

80 Years of Freedom in Gelderland

The "Choice of Freedom" project is part of "80 Years of Freedom in Gelderland," a wide-ranging program of commemorations, activities, and exhibitions that reflect on the liberation of the Netherlands and the enduring value of freedom.

More information

For more information about “Freedom of Choice,” the exhibition venues, and the program for “80 Years of Freedom in Gelderland,” please visit wo2rivierengebied.nl. This portal will be available after the outdoor exhibitions open, starting April 10, 2025.