Belgium

Day of Remembrance: 8 May

Historical Background:
On 8 May 1945, Belgium was liberated from Nazi Germany. May 8 symbolizes les V-dagen (V day), which was Sir Winston Churchill’s victory sign. V is also the first letter of the Dutch words Vrede (peace) and Vrijheid (freedom) and Verdraamhei (tolerance).

Belgium and the Holocaust:
Lexicon entry from Yad Vashem's online Holocaust Resource Center: Belgium

Educational Activities:
Holocaust Commemoration Day also focuses on today’s democratic society, addressing current issues and areas of conflict in human, social and historical context. On this day, there are walks and tours of Belgian towns and memorial sites, visits to museums and exhibitions, and school projects.

Holocaust Education Seminars:
In November 2005, 60 Belgian parliamentarians attended a two-day seminar at Yad Vashem.
Yad Vashem is organizing a seminar for French-speaking teachers/educators in July 2006.

Websites and Teaching Aids:
Center for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism: www.antiracisme.be/default.htm
The Mechelen Museum of Deportation and the Resistance: http://www.cicb.be/en/home_en.htm
Official Website of Victory Day in Belgium www.v-dag.be/start.htm
Jewish museum of Belgium: www.mjb-jmb.org
Auschwitz Stichting/ Fondation Auschwitz/ Memoire d'Auschwitz: www.auschwitz.be/content/index.php?lg=english