And then the cafe turned silent for two minutes...

in life •  7 years ago  (edited)

Today was Remembrance of the Dead day in the Netherlands.

It's a day where the Dutch commemorate all civilians and soldiers who died in wars or peacekeeping missions since the beginning of the Second World War.

At 8 o'clock in the evening on the 4th of may the whole country is silent for two minutes.

It's a respected tradition.

Public transport like trams and metros stop operating for two minutes for instance.

For as long as I can remember I have done this.

Being silent for two minutes.

I have always done this at home. But this year was different.

My brother decided to celebrate his birthday at a bar close to his home at 20:30.

So, I met up with my friend and fellow blockbrother @eqko (and friend of my brother) today for some after work beers and a burgers at 18:00 waiting for the party.


IMG_4899.jpg

IMG_4902.jpg

IMG_4900.jpg

IMG_4905.jpg


We had burgers and ice-cream after.

It was wonderful.

We then decided to walk to the central station to catch the tram to my brothers birthday cafe.

Halfway though we came across one of the amazing cafe's in Rotterdam called Kaapse Brewery.

We went inside for a sneaky one :) and low and behold my friend Fabio was in there.

Pure coincidence.


0AF305EA-E413-475F-8929-246BB80AF641.jpg


We ordered a beer and talked.

It was a lot of fun.

But 20:00 was approaching...

I was getting semi restless.

I want to respect our tradition. But how? In this busy cafe.

Then out out of now where I heard the last post being played on someones phone.

It's the last thing played before the 2 minutes of silence.

When it ended...

The whole cafe turned quiet.

For two minutes you could hear a pin drop.

In the centre of Rotterdam.

It's probably the most special Remembrance of the Dead day I have ever lived through.

I never in my life thought this could be possible outside of my home.

Two minutes later it was over and life continued as it always does.

Man, I am sure grateful for freedom.



I am a witness with our developer group @blockbrothers for the Steem blockchain. If you want to support us I would appreciate your vote here.

We build Steemify a notification app for your Steemit account for iOS.

Get it Here:


Authors get paid when people like you upvote their post.
If you enjoyed what you read here, create your account today and start earning FREE STEEM!
Sort Order:  

Saudações, grande exyle

Você é um dia excelente na Holanda. Cerveja e sanduíche com muita carne. Melhor que isso, impossível.

Quando eu vou a Holanda, quero fazer essas cervejas daí. Por que ouço daqui (Brasil), esse país é bem tradicional em fazer uma cerveja de excelente qualidade.

Muito obrigado pela postagem

Boa noite!!!

You guys were still able to enjoy yourself with such delicious food !!

  ·  7 years ago (edited)

So nice of you to share such sweet elements of your special day with us @exyle. That burger looks droolicious, and i love how the 2 minutes if silence was a complete surprise to you! Love good surprises!! Peace & Joy to you! Though I do believe we are not free in the current state of this corrupt world. Have you heard of or seen @wwf's book 'Graduating Life with Honours'?

I am glad we take the time to honour those who have given us freedom at great cost. I wonder if future generations will take the time. Here we are on the brink of a revolution. Their last revolution/civil war was less than 40 years ago. How quickly they have forgotten...

  ·  7 years ago (edited)

R3VOLution 💗💗💗 in their honour.

I think future generations will take the time. Mark never lived in a period of war and still, he is silent for two minutes. I think he will learn his children (if he has children) to be silent too.
I hope so that the civil war in your country is averted and that one realizes in time that war, certainly a civil war, does not solve anything, on the contrary.

  ·  7 years ago (edited)

Hey @exyle, thanks for posting Remembrance of the Dead day in the Netherlands, am glad you observed the day with respect and peace. Have a good remembrance day.

It's a wonderful tradition, my friend, when you pay tribute to the memory of the people and soldiers who died in the war! Of course life goes on and you did the right thing, that you decided to have a rest with your friends at the birthday of your brother, by the way I congratulate him on this holiday and I believe that these people died in the war, that now we would be free and happy! I fully support you all with this important tradition, to spend minutes of silence! Thank you Mark.

Great day you spent my friend @exyle!! How nice that they make this symbol of respect for those brave soldiers who now rest in peace....

The food looks delicious, I want to eat a hamburger right now with a "Maltín Polar" hahaha (a malt drink made here in Venezuela and part of our culture).

A greeting colleague :)

What a powerful moment. It's hard to get small families together for dinner, let alone a mass of people in recognition of an historical event. Thank you for sharing this experience with us; I learned something new today.

We do the same on 11.11 every year @exyle and it doesn't matter where you are everyone stops. The last time I was in P.C. World and everyone just stood where they were. It's a bit like some sort of film where time stands still.

It always seems to be respected though, wherever you are.

In fact, last year, I thought it would be great if there were more occasions when people were required to stop, dead still. Altogether. I think it would have a really positive effect on us.

Have a wonderful weekend! 😊

  ·  7 years ago (edited)

That must have been strange as well in the middle of a store. I was happy people respected it even in a busy cafe.

Have a great weekend as well.

That is a great tradition and thanks for sharing. Is there a reason why it's at 8pm?

I don't think there is a specific reason. I suspect time was chosen for convenience. (people of work/at home)

More beer for Liberation Day tomorrow?

Maybe :)

This is really an honorable gesture that in your culture you people remember the sacrifices of those who tried their level best to bring peace all over.

After reading your blog, i am convinced that life is really beautiful thing. Little acts of fun and gathering with friends or on brother's birthday gives one deep pleasure.

Thank you so much for sharing the experience @exyle :)

This is great. I was wondering how your story would end, but it ended in a most respectful way. I do remember when you were younger we always watched the television for the national commemoration and went silent for two minutes. I hope that these two minutes will always stay. You are right, freedom is a great thing and we will always grateful for our freedom. You only have to read what @cecicastor is writing in her comment to you and you know how important it is.

What a beautiful gesture to those that lost their lives in War :)
On a side note that is sure some delicious looking burger @exyle. Thanks for sharing , man !!

It's the last thing played before the 2 minutes of silence.
When it ended...
The whole cafe turned quiet.

It’s sad and very respectful moment! You and your brother have very close birthday. Nice celebration including 2 min silence, hamburger 🍔, beer 🍻 and of course an ice cream 🍦 😆.

That does sound like an incredible experience to have witnessed! We have some similar traditions in the US, especially if you are anywhere near military bases. The fact that everyone respects the tradition and goes silent is so powerful really. It looks like you had tons of fun!
Ivy

I hope you enjoy very much with your friend , have a great day , your story writing is very nice . Good job .

I recieved your post resteem on my blog .

Your post is always different i follow your blog everytime , your post is so helpful . I always inspire of your post on my steem work . Thank you for sharing @exyle

Follow my blog @powerupme

A minute silence for those we lost , the braves , the kind and the wise. Their memories lives on forever in our hearts. Bon appetite mon ami . Nice choice of drink too

Remembering the dead is a way of showing them respect and that we the living still remember them and pray for them also . You really have good time with your friends @exyle

Damn that burger looks epic!!
Cheers to another great post!

rest in peace who secreafise their lifes.

such an awesome treat looks delicious and thanks for telling about the Dead day

DQmTqpyXfmpQ9gwJJoEyvgvsnkHGfUrxo8PGKG4fcACS9Jf.gif

It is very respectful action that has been kept for people died for their country.
I am very touched whenever I heard those story giving honor for people who contribute their country.

chúc một ngày tuyệt vời

What a respectable tradition! Looks like you had a good time.

Happy birthday to your beloved brother.
And may gallant soldiers who fell in the course of service to their fatherland rest on. Rest on heroes!

From all indications you had fun.

I hate wars because they killed you without sin
Truly wars are unacceptable
I wish you a beautiful and wonderful celebration

What a day to celebrate to honor them, may their gentle soul rest in peace,

Nice pictures from the fun inside so cool to know about that day too :)

image

I think it is very tempting, you enjoy it friends.

Sag einfach nur
Prost , und guten appetit euch allen
lg auf Österreich gggg


Just say
Cheers, and good appetite all of you
lg form Austriag gggg

great post with good product...........

I just love that beautiful hamburger that you showed jajajaj There is nothing better to share with loved ones, it is a big sensation that you are living deeply

We have a rememberance day for all the people sent to Siberia. Russia sent random and more intelligent people to Siberia to die in 1941 and 1949. A way to subdue patriotism and culture in the countries it occupied.