On August 14, 2026, House of Representatives Speaker Thom van Campen and Senate President Mei Li Vos gathered at the Indische Plaquette inside the parliamentary complex to lay a wreath honoring all victims of World War II in the former Dutch East Indies. According to reporting from the Tweede Kamer, this solemn annual observance precedes the broader national commemoration held every August 15.
A Tradition of Reflection at the Parliamentary Plaquette
The annual closed ceremony at the Indische Plaquette brings together parliamentary leaders, lawmakers, and representatives from affected organizations. The bronze monument itself carries a deep history within the Dutch legislature. Unveiled on August 15, 1985, the plaque was established to ensure the suffering and sacrifice experienced in the former Dutch East Indies remained visible.
During the 2026 gathering, House Speaker Thom van Campen reflected on the complex nature of these inherited histories. “Ieder heeft een eigen familieverhaal. Soms vullen zij elkaar aan. Soms schuren zij,” Van Campen stated, as reported by the Tweede Kamer. He emphasized that sharing these narratives across generations transforms private grief into collective insight. “Zolang wij die verhalen blijven delen, binnen families, tussen generaties en als samenleving als geheel, is het verleden niet alleen een bron van verdriet, maar ook een bron van inzicht,” he added.
Personal Testimonies and Institutional Continuity
The 2026 ceremony also featured remarks from Paul Doop, chair of the Stichting Nationale Herdenking 15 augustus 1945, alongside personal testimony from Edje Zorgdrager, who survived confinement in a Japanese internment camp as a child.
This institutional commitment mirrors previous years of participation by the States-General. For instance, during the 2025 commemoration documented by the Staten-Generaal, Eerste Kamervoorzitter Jan Anthonie Bruijn and Tweede Kamervoorzitter Martin Bosma similarly laid a wreath at the plaquette alongside representatives of the Indo-Moluccan and Chinese communities.
From Temporary Housing to the Restored Binnenhof
The bronze plaquette currently resides in the hall of the temporary housing of the Tweede Kamer at the Bezuidenhoutseweg while the Binnenhof undergoes renovations. When the renovation of the Binnenhof is finished, the plaque returns to the Statenpassage.
The National Focal Point at the Indisch Monument
The parliamentary wreath-laying on August 14 serves as a prelude to the large-scale national gathering held the following day. On August 15, the Presidents of both the Senate and the House of Representatives join dignitaries at the Indisch Monument in Den Haag. That ceremony marks the official conclusion of World War II in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, echoing milestones such as the 80th-anniversary address delivered by King Willem-Alexander. As Van Campen noted to the legislature, ensuring that no one carries the weight of that past in isolation remains the ultimate purpose of the ritual.
