Commemorations in Heusden municipality

The municipality of Heusden has organized several events to honor military service and historical local tragedies.

In mid-October, the municipality and the Veterans Working Group held an annual Veterans Day to honor approximately 280 local veterans who served in international missions. The ceremony in Drunen included a lecture by Brigadier General Bouwmeester regarding the necessity of preparing for potential future aggression following the war in Ukraine.

Scheduled for early November, further commemorations will honor the liberation of the region during World War II and the victims of the Town Hall disaster. A ceremony at the Pijlmonument will mark the 1944 crossing of the Drongelens Canal by the Scottish 51st Highland Division. Additionally, a memorial service in Heusden will address the Town Hall disaster, incorporating new historical research suggesting the death toll was at least 137 people. To honor the three additional victims identified through recent research, Mayor Willemijn van Hees will read their names during the service.