Dutch War Hero Marco Kroon Removes Protester Disrupting Liberation Day Ceremony in Wageningen

WAGENINGEN — During the solemn Liberation Day ceremony in Wageningen on May 5, Major Marco Kroon, one of the Netherlands’ most decorated living soldiers, physically removed an anti-Israel protester who attempted to disrupt a speech by Dutch Minister Ruben Brekelmans.

The protester reportedly tried to interrupt the commemorative event, prompting Kroon, who was in attendance, to intervene swiftly. Video footage circulating online shows Kroon escorting the individual away from the official proceedings.

Major Kroon is one of only three living knights of the 4th class of the Military William Order, the highest military distinction in the Netherlands. He was knighted by Queen Beatrix on May 29, 2009, for exceptional bravery, leadership, and loyalty during Operation Chitag in Afghanistan. As a platoon commander, Kroon led his men through intense combat against Taliban forces without suffering a single casualty.

The incident occurred during a ceremony marking the German capitulation in the Netherlands, signed on May 5, 1945, in Wageningen. Liberation Day is a significant national event, commemorating the end of Nazi occupation and honoring the 250,000 Dutch citizens who lost their lives during the Second World War — including tens of thousands of Jews murdered in Nazi concentration and death camps.

The protester’s motives remain under investigation, but the timing and location of the interruption have sparked widespread condemnation. Many have praised Kroon’s action as upholding the dignity of the solemn occasion, particularly in a town that symbolises Dutch liberation.