We want to spend Liberation Day 2027 in Wageningen. What happens there, and how do we get there?
Wageningen is where it ended: the surrender of German forces in the Netherlands was agreed at Hotel de Wereld on 5 May 1945 and signed the next day in the university auditorium next door, and every year the national celebrations open there. In 2026 the Liberation Flame was lit just after midnight at the hotel by the mayor with two veterans aged 105 and 103, and some 2,500 relay runners carried it across the country. 5 May 2027 falls on a Wednesday; the 2027 program had not been announced on 1 November 2026. Wageningen is about 85 km from Amsterdam, roughly 1 h 14; an 8-hour day costs €520 in Business Class, distance included.
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With a chauffeur by the hour: prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €65 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €80 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €100 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
By the hour: minimum 2 hours, 40 km included per hour, starting and ending in the same city. The chauffeur waits between stops. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. During ADE week (pickups October 20 to 26, 2026) fixed ADE-week prices apply, shown before you book; promo codes cannot be used that week. Booked less than 12 hours before pickup: +10%. At an airport or an intercity station the first 60 minutes of waiting are free, elsewhere 15 minutes; after that waiting is charged per minute at the class's hourly rate (Business €65 an hour). Free cancellation up to 1 hour before pickup.
What is included in the price
- A fixed price confirmed at booking, with VAT included: no meter and no surge
- The chauffeur’s name, car and phone number before pickup, plus e-mail reminders 24 hours and 2 hours ahead
- Water and phone chargers (iOS and Android) in the car
- Status updates to the person who booked, if that is not the passenger: confirmed, chauffeur en route, guest in the car, arrived
Two days that belong together
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Tue 4 May 2027 | Remembrance Day: two minutes of silence at 20:00 across the country |
| Wed 5 May 2027 | Liberation Day: festivals across the country; in Wageningen, the ceremonies and the Freedom Parade, led by WWII veterans (more than 2,500 people took part in 2025) |
Getting around on the day
Expect closed streets in the town center around the parade; the chauffeur drops you at the edge and collects you at an agreed point. Book early: 5 May is a busy day for cars.
Related questions
Can we visit Hotel de Wereld?
It's a working hotel and restaurant, so you can eat or stay there; the surrender was negotiated in the hotel and signed next door the following day.
Is Liberation Day in Wageningen suitable for children?
The festival side is family-friendly; ceremonies are solemn.
Can we combine it with Arnhem?
Oosterbeek's Airborne Museum is about 14 minutes away by car; see Arnhem and Oosterbeek by car.
Sources
- NL Times: Liberation flame lit in Wageningen (5 May 2026) (checked October 31, 2026)
- Nieuws.nl: more than 2,500 people in the Freedom Parade (2025) (checked October 31, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Hotel de Wereld (surrender negotiated 5 May, signed 6 May 1945) (checked October 31, 2026)
Book it, or ask dispatch first
Book online in a few minutes (no account, no app), or send your flight number and address on WhatsApp and dispatch replies in English, 24 hours a day.