18 Feb

On 16 February, the liberation of the Hungarian protestant preachers by Michiel de Ruyter in 1676 was commemorated by the descendants, the representatives of the De Ruyter Foundation, the mayor of Vlissingen, the representatives of the Dutch Royal Navy and the Embassy of Hungary. The commemoration ceremony was commenced by the welcoming words of Frits de Ruyter, Chairman of the Foundation in De Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam.

Deputy Ambassador Krisztina Varga delivered a keynote speech in Dutch in which she acknowledged the heroic feat of the admiral and pointed out the less known background of the diplomatic and protestant endeavour behind the deliverance of the preachers. Her speech gave a particular focus to how Hungarians pay tribute to the admiral by commemorating him using his Christian name written in Hungarian phonetic on various memorial plaques in the country. A unique evidence of gratitude towards solidarity and brotherhood of the Dutch.

The commemoration was completed by musical performance of the Hungarian guitarist Róbert Sinha, a descendent of one of the liberated preachers. 

Following the speeches, wreaths were laid at the tomb of the Admiral, subsequently Krisztina Varga and Jan Nuboer, the other speaker of the ceremony opened the doors of the crypt.

Photos: Michiel de Ruyter Foundation