The Prinses Irene Brigade was the Dutch army brigade that fought with the allies. It consisted primarily of former resistance members who had crossed over to England (‘Engelandvaarders’) and Dutch soldiers residing outside the Netherlands after May 1940.
The Hague was liberated on May 8, 1945. The Prinses Irene Brigade left around noon that day from the Grebbeberg to The Hague. They were received at 7 PM by major De Monchy. ‘Engelandvaarder’ General Rudi Hemmes, honorary citizen of The Hague, had landed at Normandy on August 8, 1945 with the Irene Brigade and proceeded to partake in the entire campaign. The monument is the liberation monument of The Hague.
