Rotterdamse Vrijheidsmaaltijden
'Vrijheidssoep' and dessert
On May 5, Plein is participating in a special edition of Aan tafel met de buren, in collaboration with Ukrainian House. During the Vrijheidsmaaltijd, you will meet others, share stories, and reflect on what freedom means today.
Vrijheidssoep
This year, the recipe is by cookbook author Janny van der Heijden: a creamy, vegetarian soup made with white beans, ginger, and coconut milk. The soft, white base symbolizes the white dove and the white flag, thus aligning with the theme of peace and freedom.
Dessert by Ukrainian House
For this evening, Olena is baking a special dessert: traditional poppy-seed buns. This pastry holds symbolic significance in Ukrainian tradition. Poppy seeds represent life, abundance, continuity, and hope.
Ukrainian House Rotterdam is collecting voluntary donations this evening. With these funds, they support an initiative by her father, in which volunteers make camouflage nets together.
Poetry performance by Daria Lysenko translated by Ishmael Kamara
In the poetic essay Is Humanity Still Fascinated by Cruelty?, Daria Lysenko explores the hidden cruelty in the everyday lives of countries living in peace. At the same time, she contrasts this with the reality of a European country, Ukraine, which is the first in world history to be confronted with a war that is broadcast live every day.
Daria performs the poem herself. Because she does not speak Dutch, her performance will be translated live into Dutch by Ishmael Kamara.
Daria Lysenko is a Ukrainian-Croatian poet, writer and member of the Croatian Writers’ Association. She was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and lived and studied in Ukraine, Croatia and Serbia. After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she moved to the Netherlands.
Ishmael Kamara is a poet, performer and writer. He was born in Mambolo Chiefdom, Sierra Leone, and came to the Netherlands as a refugee in 2012. In Rotterdam, he found a muse and a source of inspiration.
About the partners
Rotterdamse Vrijheidsmaaltijden bring people together in the city every year. Sharing a meal fosters connection and opens up the conversation about freedom, and what it means when that freedom is missing.
Stichting Mano On Tuesdays, we collaborate with Stichting Mano. This organisation encourages people in Rotterdam to take part in society and helps them discover and use their talents. Their programmes focus on children, young people, newcomers, refugees and others who may face extra challenges. Stichting Mano offers support with language, practical skills, education and employment. They also work to raise awareness of key issues through events, campaigns and the voices of people with lived experience.
Ukrainian House Rotterdam is a meeting place for the Ukrainian community and the city. The house connects stories, experiences, and people from Rotterdam.
Foto: Rosa Quist