During the Second World War, more than three hundred employees of ABN AMRO's predecessors lost their lives as a result of acts of war, the persecution of Jews forced labour or resistance activities. The bank has commemorated them every year since 1947, and did so again yesterday.

In the presence of more than hundred colleagues, CEO Robert Swaak honoured the fallen employees and underlined the value of peace: "Living in safety and freedom are universal human rights. The right to live in freedom, to choose your religion and to say what you would like to say. Yet that freedom is not a given for everyone. Wars and oppression continue to occur in today's world. People are giving their lives for the freedom of others. That too is a reason for us to continue to commemorate and to celebrate the freedom which we live in every single day."

The speech was followed by the laying of a wreath (by board members Annerie Vreugdenhil and Robert Swaak) and around three hundred flowers - one for every fallen colleague. There then followed one minute's silence.

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