L1 news, May 2, 2026, Maurice Jessen © L1 (Maurice Jessen) Translation: Ineke One breath, one trumpet: all of the Netherlands listens to trumpeter from Schinnen on May 4. (National Remembrance Day). Romano Diederen is calmness personified in the run-up to the ultimate moment. On Monday evening, he will play the Last Post signal during the National Remembrance on Dam Square in Amsterdam. "Take a good breath and then do my job." Sounds simple, but it certainly isn't. He has known for some time that he is *the* trumpeter that the entire Netherlands commemorating the day will be watching and, above all, listening to. Marine Band "It is a tradition that the solo trumpeter of one of the three military bands plays on Dam Square. This year it is the Marine Band's turn, so I knew that this special honor would fall to me." The 26-year-old soldier from Schinnen began his musical career at a young age with the local brass band St. Caecilia. He soon realized that his future lay in music and chose to study at the conservatory. Afterward, he joined the Marine Band as a professional musician. "I am officially a soldier, but I do not perform combat duties. The members of the Marine Band focus entirely on the musical aspect of the Defense Force." André Rieu Diederen is musically versatile. For instance, he is also a member of the Böhmerwaldkapel, and André Rieu regularly seeks him out. "When they have a concert series with the main orchestra, André often adds me. Then I sit comfortably next to my father on stage playing." His father, Roger, has been a member of the Maastricht 'standing violinist's' orchestra for many years. Everything in the Diederen family breathes music. The founder of this is Grandpa Jan, who also used to play in a military band. Grandpa was a member of the Limburgse Jagers (hunters) band, but at that time only conscripted soldiers played there.

The hardest part is starting from total silence later on. But I just have to concentrate well and then do my work, says trumpeter Romano Diederen. King Willem-Alexander Meanwhile, Romano practices his trumpet one more time. He has played this piece hundreds of times, but never before on a packed Dam Square in Amsterdam. "The hardest part is starting from total silence later on. But I just have to concentrate well and then do my work. It is going to be very impressive to play there." King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will be sitting just a few meters away, listening to every note from his trumpet. Ten trumpets The young musician already knows which instrument he will play on Monday. It's going to be this silver trumpet. In the Marine Band, it is customary for us to play on silver instruments. In total, I have about ten trumpets. My first one? My father has that one back in his possession. He plays it now in André Rieu's orchestra. For us musicians, a trumpet like that is ultimately nothing more than a tool to do our work. Dam-screamer But it is indeed special work that Romano gets to do, especially when all of the Netherlands can see him in action. Meanwhile, we also briefly meet his girlfriend, who is naturally very proud of him. "No, I'm not going to Amsterdam. That is probably a good thing, because otherwise they would have had another new Dam- screamer there. Once he has played the signal, I would undoubtedly go completely wild there. So, I'll just do that in front of the television." One person who is undoubtedly also sitting proudly in front of the television is Grandpa Jan. Just like the members of the St. Caecilia fanfare band and the musicians of the Böhmerwaldkapel. Romano himself remains down-to-earth about it: "I'm just doing my job."

to read more about the Diederen family, click HERE.