Netherlands veteran day events held despite heatwave cancellation

The national Veteran Day ceremony in the Netherlands, normally held on the Malieveld in The Hague, was called off at the last minute because of an extreme heatwave. The opening programme nevertheless went ahead at the Royal Theater, attended by King Willem‑Alexander and Prime Minister Rob Jetten.

The following day, on 25 June 2026, the annual veteran dinner took place in the Leiderdorp town hall as a prelude to the national day on 27 June. The gathering, themed “Mee op missie” (Together on mission), featured the traditional blue meal, personal veteran stories and reflections on the significance of service.