Face to face with Henk van Randwijk

On Tuesday 5 May 2026, Vlissingen will once again be celebrating freedom during the Zeeland Liberation Festival. With a varied programme of music, socialising and reflection, the festival will bring together thousands of visitors to celebrate 81 years of freedom. The day will open with the annual Van Randwijk Lecture, which this year will be delivered by Geert Mak in St James’s Church.

The lecture is named after Henk van Randwijk, resistance fighter, writer and editor-in-chief of Vrij Nederland, and symbolises the enduring importance of freedom of speech and moral courage.

In the monumental St James’s Church, historian and writer Geert Mak will reflect on the theme of freedom, in the light of both history and current affairs. The title of his lecture is: ‘Face to face with Henk van Randwijk: Van Randwijk’s legacy in these times’. With his characteristic sharpness and narrative power, Mak links personal stories to major social developments, and encourages reflection on responsibility, democracy and solidarity.

Admission to the Van Randwijk Lecture is free. You can register via www.bevrijdingsfestivalzeeland.nl