Fulfilling a Debt of Honor: The History of the August 15 Commemoration

by Karel Wagemans – first published in Dutch on January 20, 2025

Introduction: Remembering the Origins of Herdenking

As the Indo community and others with family history in the Dutch East Indies commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in the Pacific, it is worth remembering how the tradition of Herdenking—the annual August 15 commemoration—first began. This tradition traces back to the determination of one man, Gerhard Sietse “At” Vrijburg, who believed that the “liberation in the East” deserved a permanent place in the Netherlands’ national memory.

A Life Shaped by History

Gerhard Sietse “At” Vrijburg (1905–1989) believed that the suffering endured by Dutch civilians and soldiers in the East during World War II should never fade from memory. For him, the Japanese surrender on August 15, 1945 was not just an end to captivity, but a day that carried an unfulfilled debt of honor—a promise to recognize those who had endured internment, loss, and exile. A civil engineer born in Java to Frisian parents, Vrijburg’s life spanned the final decades of Dutch colonial rule, the devastation of war, and the difficult transition to post-colonial life. His own wartime experiences, and the tragedies that befell his family, would shape his mission: to give the “liberation in the East” a place in the Netherlands’ national memory.

His father, Bouwe, worked as a veterinarian for the Dutch colonial administration. After graduating, Vrijburg married Anna van Heeckeren van der Schoot (1910–2001) in late 1928 in Batavia (now Jakarta). Anna’s impressive double surname was created in 1905 by combining the surnames of her parents.

War and Loss: Internment and Family Tragedy

During the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies in World War II, Vrijburg was interned in the Tjimahi camp in West Java. His wife and four children were spared internment but placed under house arrest, reportedly due to Anna’s lineage; her great-grandmother, a lady of noble descent named De Kock, had settled in the East nearly 150 years earlier. This was not the case for Vrijburg’s parents, who arrived around 1895. His mother, already ailing, died in an internment camp in early December 1943.

Postwar Life and Separation

Following Japan’s surrender in August 1945, Dutch authority in the Dutch East Indies rapidly diminished, ultimately leading to the recognition of the Republic of Indonesia in 1949. In the postwar years, Vrijburg and Anna had two more children, but their relationship faltered. In 1954, Anna moved to the Netherlands with all six children. The couple never reconciled, and their divorce was finalized in 1970, though Vrijburg repatriated to the Netherlands in late 1957. He worked as an urban planner at the Ministry of Housing until retirement and lived in Statenkwartier, The Hague, for more than 20 years.

A New Partnership and a Shared Mission

Vrijburg later found a new partner, Gerrie Koopmans, born in Bandung in 1915 and widow of Georg Röhner, who had died as a Japanese POW in 1943. Gerrie became both his companion and collaborator in the cause that would define his later life. When she passed away in December 1972, Vrijburg described her as his “radiant life companion, source of inspiration, and steadfast support for over 25 years” in his obituary in De Telegraaf. Together, they played a pivotal role in organizing the first national commemoration of Japan’s surrender, marking 25 years of liberation on August 15, 1970.

The Call for Recognition

As Vrijburg told Algemeen Handelsblad in October 1969:
“Each year on May 4, we commemorate the Dutch victims of World War II, but August 15, the day of our liberation in the East, is never observed. We want a one-time commemoration next year, marking 25 years of freedom. Surely it’s not too much to ask to draw attention to our sacrifices just once?”

Organizing the First National Commemoration

He envisioned this commemoration as a way to fulfill a debt of honor. His organizational skills proved essential. After selecting The Hague as the venue, plans expanded to include a commemorative ceremony at the Congresgebouw (now the World Forum) and a five-day Indische markt on the Frederik Hendriklaan and Aert van der Goesstraat. The latter, known as the legendary Pasar Baru, turned the Statenkwartier neighborhood upside down, as Het Parool put it.

Gerrie managed the vast administrative tasks, while volunteers took on various responsibilities. Many evenings were spent in planning meetings at their home in the Statenkwartier, The Hague. On August 15, 1970, under sunny skies, the event took place.

The Event and Its Impact

The organizers anticipated over 10,000 attendees for the official ceremony. More than 6,000 seats were arranged on the Congresgebouw’s parking lot, with standing room for an additional 3,000. The ceremony lasted about three hours and concluded with the Wilhelmus. Inside the Congresgebouw, attendees could enjoy Indisch food, films, slideshows, and live music. Notable guests included Queen Juliana, who interrupted her vacation to attend, Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus, as well as ministers and other dignitaries. The Indonesian ambassador, Taswin Natadiningrat, was a special guest. Former Governor-General Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer received a warm reception both at the ceremony and during a visit to the Pasar Baru, where he toured the bustling streets in a becak alongside his wife.

The event also featured food, with 4,300 plates of nasi rames—prepared by Tante Truus and Paatje van der Capellen, legendary figures in the Indische community—served in the parking lot. Even Queen Juliana added an extra dollop of sambal to her plate, according to reports.

Legacy: From One-Time Event to Annual Tradition

Initially intended as a one-time event, the 1970 commemoration laid the foundation for the establishment of the Indisch Monument near the Waterpartij in The Hague. Unveiled by Queen Beatrix on August 15, 1988, it remains the focal point of annual ceremonies commemorating the suffering endured in the Dutch East Indies during the war and occupation.

Vrijburg’s Final Contribution

Vrijburg’s final project was a book documenting key events of those dark days, culminating in the 1970 national commemoration. Titled Een ereschuld ingelost (A Debt of Honor Fulfilled), it included a foreword by Prince Bernhard, who received the first copy on December 5, 1972, at Soestdijk Palace. Afterward, Vrijburg and Gerrie traveled to Bavaria, where she was admitted to a clinic for terminal cancer patients. Gerrie passed away there shortly after. Vrijburg himself died in 1989 in Winterswijk, where his eldest daughter, Joke, lived.

About the Author

Karel Wagemans is a historian and author specializing in the history of The Hague’s Statenkwartier neighborhood. He has published several books, including Schetsen uit het Statenkwartier (1997), Kurhaus. Een vorstelijk verblijf (2004), and Dossier Duinstraat (2005). As the neighborhood historian, he contributes monthly historical articles to the Stichting Wijkoverleg Statenkwartier and has been involved in various local projects. His work offers valuable insights into the area’s rich history and development.