Eerste nationale bevrijdingsfeest in het Olympisch Stadion: kaart van Nederland Possibly 1945 - 1948

Cas Oorthuys made this photograph of the first national liberation celebration in the Olympic Stadium. It shows a large map of the Netherlands outlined on the stadium field with people standing along the borders. The image captures a moment of collective identity formation in the wake of World War II. The people standing on the outline of the map can be seen as literally embodying the nation. This physical occupation of space emphasizes the importance of territory and belonging in the postwar reconstruction of Dutch national identity. In the context of postwar Europe, we can understand this event as part of a broader effort to rebuild social cohesion through carefully staged public events. By studying archival materials like newspapers, government documents, and personal accounts, we can gain a deeper appreciation of the complex social dynamics that shaped this historical moment. Art, in this sense, reflects both the real and the ideal of Dutch society at this pivotal moment in its history.