Text and Images Applied
Today, the first outdoor exhibition has been fitted on the inside with panels featuring texts and images. The ...
All six ‘Freedom of Choice’ Outdoor Exhibitions are Open!
Wednesday 16 April 2025On Thursday 10 April, all six Freedom of Choice outdoor exhibitions were officially opened. The exhibitions in Tiel, Ommeren, Opheusden, Bemmel, Elst and Wamel were each festively inaugurated one after the other. These permanent exhibitions are now freely accessible to the public and share personal stories from residents of the River Area about their experiences during the Second World War.
Tiel
In Tiel, the Freedom of Choice exhibition is located at the entrance of Zinder. On the square outside, the wartime stories of Tiel’s residents come to life. The opening ceremony was performed by Councillor Dave Verbeek of the Municipality of Tiel, alongside Marieke van Schijndel of the vfonds – one of the supporters of the Freedom of Choice project.
Ommeren
In Ommeren, the outdoor exhibition was opened by Councillor Wilma Alink. The installation is located on the grounds of the Baron van Brakell Regional Museum. Councillor Alink officially inaugurated the exhibition with a speech and the symbolic cutting of the ribbon. In the photo (from left to right): Frank and Esther Ikkink, Gert van Schaik, Hans de Haas, and Councillor Wilma Alink.
Opheusden
In Opheusden, the honour of opening the Freedom of Choice exhibition fell to Deputy Mayor Nees van Wolfswinkel. The installation has been given a prominent location on the Parallelweg, next to Vliegers in het Vuur.
In his speech, the Deputy Mayor emphasised that freedom should never be taken for granted: “Across Europe’s borders and in many other parts of the world, war continues to rage and peace can feel painfully out of reach.”
He also explained the significance of this particular location:“During the Second World War, this very place witnessed intense conflict. After Operation Market Garden, our municipality found itself on the front line – between liberated and occupied territory. It was a time of evacuations, flooding, bombings and fierce air battles. Many lives were lost, and many more were deeply scarred – not just in that generation, but in those that followed. This exhibition allows those stories to be heard.”
Bemmel
In Bemmel, Councillor Aart Slob opened the Freedom of Choice exhibition next to the Sherma tank on De Heuvel.
From the outside, the exhibition appears abstract and unified. The use of aluminium references the material used in many wartime aircraft. The design of the exhibitions follows a winding path – reminiscent of the meandering rivers in the Gelderland River Region, which often served as navigational markers during the war.
Elst
In Elst, Councillor Wijnte Hol of the Municipality of Overbetuwe cut the ribbon to officially open the Freedom of Choice exhibition.He underlined the importance of remembrance: “Especially in these uncertain times, it is vital that we continue to remember. As more eyewitnesses pass away, this exhibition becomes an important way to ensure the wartime stories of the Betuwe are not forgotten, but preserved for the future.”
Wamel
The sixth and final Freedom of Choice exhibition was opened in Wamel. The ceremonial act was carried out by Gelderland Provincial Executive Ans Mol, together with Councillor Rob Reuvers.
With the opening of this final location, all six Freedom of Choice outdoor exhibitions are now open to the public and can be visited freely.
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