Leusden (Netherlands), May 9, 2025 – On Victory Day, May 9, a solemn memorial ceremony took place at the “Soviet Field of Glory” cemetery in the city of Leusden. The event was dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. This significant occasion became the centerpiece in a series of international humanitarian initiatives aimed at preserving the historical memory of Red Army soldiers who died far from their homeland.

Just a few days earlier, on May 5, events dedicated to Liberation Day were held throughout the Netherlands. This day marks the end of Nazi occupation in 1945 and is a key date on the national calendar. It symbolizes the values of freedom, peace, and gratitude to those who fought against Nazism. These values resonate deeply with the ceremonies dedicated to Soviet soldiers who perished in the Netherlands.

“We celebrate the victory over fascism and honor the memory of the numerous victims of this war. Your country made a major contribution to this victory and suffered greatly during the war. We understand how important this commemoration is for Kazakhstan,” read the invitation addressed to Kazakhstani diplomats in the Netherlands, sent by Leusden Mayor Gerolf Bouwmeester and the Director of the Soviet Field of Glory Foundation, Remco Reiding.

The delegation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, headed by Ambassador Kairat Abdrakhmanov, laid a wreath at the monument to fallen Soviet soldiers, thereby paying tribute to the courage and self-sacrifice of Kazakh warriors who fought for freedom.

The Soviet military cemetery in Leusden is one of the largest burial sites of Soviet soldiers in Western Europe. A total of 865 Red Army soldiers and officers are laid to rest here, including natives of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and other former Soviet republics. For many years, their names remained unknown, until the dedicated efforts of Dutch researchers, archivists, and volunteers restored justice and gave the fallen the dignity of remembrance.

This year’s ceremony was attended by the mayors of Leusden and Amersfoort, representatives of the diplomatic corps, public figures, students, and local residents. Participants honored the fallen with a moment of silence and laid wreaths on behalf of their countries and peoples.

A significant part of the ceremony consisted of the personal recollections of the descendants of fallen soldiers, who learned for the first time about the fate of their relatives thanks to the work of Dutch enthusiasts.

This event became the culmination of a series of commemorative activities held in Leusden this year. For example, on April 9, a separate ceremony was held here in memory of 77 Soviet prisoners of war who were executed by the Nazis on that day in 1942. According to eyewitness accounts, most of them were natives of the Central Asian republics, including Kazakhstan.

In March 2025, the Sovjet Ereveld Experience museum opened at the same site — a unique space telling the stories of fallen Soviet soldiers through modern multimedia technologies. A special section of the exhibition is devoted to the stories of Kazakh soldiers whose biographies have been reconstructed in recent years. The museum stands as a living reminder of the cost of victory and the importance of humanitarian dialogue between nations.

The work of the Soviet Field of Glory Foundation (Stichting Sovjet Ereveld), under whose auspices these initiatives are implemented, rightly deserves the highest recognition. Thanks to such projects, historical justice is restored, humanitarian ties between countries are strengthened, and nameless soldiers regain their voice — the voice of memory, gratitude, and peace.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-hague/press/news/details/992746?lang=kk