AMSTERDAM (AP) — Trains came to a halt, cars pulled to the side of the road and no planes arrived or departed in the Netherlands for two minutes on Sunday, as the country went silent to remember victims of war.
Thousands of people gathered in Amsterdam to watch as Dutch King Willem-Alexander laid a wreath at a war memorial, 80 years and a day since the country was liberated from Nazi occupation in 1945.
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A person holds a picture during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
People attend a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
A ray of light shines on Dutch King Willem-Alexander, as Queen Maxima stands left, after laying a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
A person protests during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, left, leave after laying a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
A person protests during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima leave after laying a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Netherlands' Prime Minister Dick Schoof lays a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
A person protests during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Netherlands' Prime Minister Dick Schoof speaks prior to laying a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima lay a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Pigeons fly as Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima arrive to lay a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
The first speaker at the annual event was 14-year-old Marijn van der Wilk who read a poem he had written about resistance during the war. “They were brothers, sisters, neighbors. Just people, like you or me. In a time when doing good could be life-threatening. And yet they did it,” he said during the nationally televised event.
Prime Minister Dick Schoof discussed the grief his family felt over the death of his grandfather, who was executed by Nazi soldiers for his work in the resistance.
“On this day, in the two minutes of silence, that echo sounds extra loud. When we think of all the people who were murdered for who they were. Who died of hunger or exhaustion. Or who fought for peace and freedom. Our peace and freedom,” Schoof said.
The national day of commemoration, at which flags fly at half staff from buildings throughout the country, honors military personnel and civilians killed in conflicts around the world since the outbreak of World War II. It is followed Monday by celebrations to mark the country’s liberation from Nazi German occupation at the end of the war.
Not every place in the country observed the remembrance. Some predominantly Christian areas honored the dead on Saturday, as to not disrupt the Sunday sabbath.
In The Hague, a few hundred people gathered for an alternative commemoration. A group of civil servants organized May 4 inclusive, an event to remember all victims of conflict, frustrated with the Dutch government’s response to the conflict in Gaza. According to the association’s website, the official event is too restrictive. “We commemorate both the victims of the past and the victims of today, regardless of where, by whom or when the war, genocide, persecution or oppression took place. We do not want to exclude anyone, all victims are given a place.”
A few pro-Palestinian slogans could be seen in the crowd in Amsterdam.
Later Sunday evening, two veterans will light a Liberation Fire to kickstart a day of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of German occupation of the Netherlands. Mervyn Kersh, a 100-year-old veteran from Britain, and Nick Janicki, 101, from Canada will light the flame in Wageningen, the central city where German officers signed the official surrender in 1945, organizers said.
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Mike Corder in The Hague contributed to this report.
A person holds a picture during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
People attend a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
A ray of light shines on Dutch King Willem-Alexander, as Queen Maxima stands left, after laying a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
A person protests during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, left, leave after laying a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
A person protests during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima leave after laying a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Netherlands' Prime Minister Dick Schoof lays a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
A person protests during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Netherlands' Prime Minister Dick Schoof speaks prior to laying a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima lay a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Pigeons fly as Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima arrive to lay a wreath during a solemn annual national service to commemorate the war dead in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Down 3-1 to the Boston Celtics in their Eastern Conference first-round series, the Philadelphia 76ers looked doomed.
Far from it.
For the 11th consecutive season, a road team has won a Game 7 in the NBA playoffs. Philadelphia did the honors on Saturday night, and on Sunday, the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors will look to join that club.
Orlando goes to Detroit, and Toronto goes to Cleveland to wrap up the first round. The winners of those games will meet Tuesday in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series.
— Game 7, Orlando at Detroit, 3:30 p.m. EDT (ABC)
Series: Tied, 3-3.
Odds: Detroit by 8.5.
The Pistons are playing a Game 7 for the 11th time and the first since 2006. The Magic are playing their fifth Game 7, the first since 2024.
— Game 7, Toronto at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m. EDT (NBC/Peacock)
Series: Tied, 3-3.
Odds: Cleveland by 8.5.
The Raptors are in their seventh Game 7 and first since 2020. The Cavaliers are in their ninth Game 7, their first since 2024.
— Game 1, Philadelphia at New York, 8 p.m. EDT (NBC/Peacock)
Odds: New York by 7.5 points.
It's the fifth time (including the Syracuse era for the 76ers) that the teams have met in a conference semifinal series. Philadelphia won each of the previous four, going a combined 14-2 in those games.
— Game 1, Minnesota at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m. EDT (Peacock/NBCSN)
Odds: San Antonio by 13.5.
Spurs beat the Timberwolves 3-1 in the first round of the 1999 and 2001 playoffs. The teams haven't had a playoff series since, until now.
— 76ers 109, Celtics 100 to win series 4-3. Jayson Tatum didn't play.
A breakdown of this season's NBA awards:
— Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year: DeAndre Jordan, New Orleans.
— Hustle Award: Moussa Diabaté, Charlotte.
— Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio.
— Clutch Player of the Year: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City.
— Sixth Man of the Year: Keldon Johnson, San Antonio.
— Sportsmanship Award: Derrick White, Boston.
— Most Improved Player: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta.
— Rookie of the Year: Cooper Flagg, Dallas.
— Executive of the Year: Brad Stevens, Boston.
Among the announcements still to come:
— Most Valuable Player: Gilgeous-Alexander, Wembanyama or Denver's Nikola Jokic.
— Coach of the Year: Detroit's J.B. Bickerstaff, San Antonio's Mitch Johnson or Boston's Joe Mazzulla.
Defending champion Oklahoma City (-140) is favored to win the NBA title, oddsmakers say.
Entering Sunday, the Thunder were followed by San Antonio (+300), New York (+900), Detroit (+2000), Cleveland (+2200) and the Los Angeles Lakers (+3000). Philadelphia (+3500, from +10000 on Saturday) is next, followed by Minnesota (+15000). Orlando entered Sunday at +40000.
The Flyers are in the second round of the NHL playoffs. The 76ers are in the second round of the NBA playoffs.
This is a great thing for Philadelphia — and a bit of a scheduling headache for the Sixers' home arena.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were supposed to play there on Friday, but that night will be Game 3 of Knicks-76ers. Springsteen's concert was moved to May 30, which will become the final night of his 20-stop tour.
He also is going to play at Madison Square Garden twice in the next two weeks, but those dates — May 11 and May 16 — won't conflict with any planned Knicks home games.
— Monday and Tuesday: Conference semifinals begin.
— May 10: NBA draft lottery.
— May 10-17: NBA draft combine.
— May 17 or 19: Eastern Conference finals begin on ESPN and ABC.
— May 18 or 20: Western Conference finals begin on NBC and Peacock.
— June 3: Game 1, NBA Finals on ABC. (Other finals dates: June 5, June 8, June 10, June 13, June 16 and June 19).
— June 23: Round 1, NBA draft
— June 24: Round 2, NBA draft
"There’s two sides of every coin. When you go after greatness, you have to accept the other side of that." — Boston coach Joe Mazzulla, after the Celtics lost to Philadelphia in Game 7 of their East first-round series.
— Even with Saturday's season-ending loss, Boston won 57% of its games this season when missing 30 or more 3-pointers. The rest of the league has won in that scenario 35% of the time this season.
— Philadelphia's Kyle Lowry has been part of two Game 7 road wins in his career. Both were at Boston — the 2023 East finals with Miami, and then Saturday night's victory.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Toronto Raptors' RJ Barrett (9) celebrates with fans after a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 in the first round of an NBA basketball playoffs series in Toronto, Friday, May 1, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Raptors' RJ Barrett (9) celebrates after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime of Game 6 in the first round of an NBA basketball playoffs series in Toronto on Friday, May 1, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) celebrates during the second half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Houston Rockets in Houston, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid celebrates following his team's victory over the Boston Celtics after the Game 7 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Saturday, May 2, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
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Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (1) celebrates his three-point basket against the Denver Nuggets during the second half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander celebrates a scores against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Fans watch Portland Trail Blazers player introductions before Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the San Antonio Spurs, in Portland, Ore., Sunday, April 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
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Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) sits on the court after sustaining an injury during the first half of Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, center, wears street cloths on the bench as he sits out Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, Ore, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
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Toronto Raptors guard Ja'kobe Walter (14) and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reach for the ball in the second half in Game 2 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series in Cleveland, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
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