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 Freedom of Choice 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. Freedom of Choice brings poignant personal stories from World War II to life.

During the war years, the River Region was the scene of fierce fighting, forced choices, and great uncertainty. Behind every choice lay a story: stories of courage and resistance, of survival and loss, of cooperation and trust. Choice Freedom gives a voice to residents from that period and places their experiences in a contemporary context.

Six locations with personal stories.

Each outdoor exhibition focuses on personal stories of residents of that place, told through images, text, and historical sources. Visitors are taken on a journey through the dilemmas faced by residents during wartime and are given the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of freedom and choices 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 this opening, speakers, relatives, and those involved will put the stories of that time into perspective. After the opening, the exhibitions will remain open to the public free of charge for the coming years.

80 years of freedom in Gelderland

The Freedom of Choice project is part of 80 Years of Freedom Gelderland, a broad 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 locations, and the program for 80 Years of Freedom Gelderland, please visit wo2rivierengebied.nl. This portal will be accessible after the outdoor exhibitions open on April 10, 2025.