{"organism":"Page","children":[{"organism":"Container.Raw","children":[{"organism":"Metadata","model":{"title":"Anno 1989: Wind van verandering waait door Europa","text":"\u003Cp\u003E1989 gaat de geschiedenisboeken in als legendarisch. Voor veel Europeanen is 1989 namelijk het jaar van vrijheid en hoop: met de val van de Berlijnse Muur en met het verdwijnen van communistische regimes in Oost-Europa. De Koude Oorlog tussen "West" en "Oost" komt ten einde. Het maakt de weg vrij voor investeringen van ook Shell in andere delen van Europa.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","links":[{"name":"Lees Anno 1989","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering.html"}],"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/_jcr_content/root/metadata.shellimg.jpeg/1786099418028/netherlands-venster2607-anp-6050917-jaco-klamer-169.jpeg","alt":"Een file van Trabanten trekt van Oost- naar West-Berlijn om de vrijheid van de val van de muur te beleven, 9 november 1989 (Foto: Jaco Klamer / ANP)","width":3708,"height":2086},"date":"2026-08-13T07:46:00.000Z","tags":[{"name":"Geschiedenis","value":"shell:netherlands/shell-venster-magazine/geschiedenis"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/metadata"},{"organism":"ContentOwner","model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/contentowner"},{"organism":"Container.Header","children":[{"organism":"Container.Raw","ref":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/_jcr_content/root/header/inherited.model.json","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/header/inherited","model":{}},{"organism":"Breadcrumb","model":{"links":[{"name":"Home","value":"https://www.shell.nl/"},{"name":"Over ons","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons.html"},{"name":"Nieuws","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws.html"},{"name":"Shell Venster 2026","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws/shell-venster-2026.html"},{"name":"Anno 1989: Europa en de wind van verandering","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering.html"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/header/breadcrumb"}],"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/header","model":{}},{"organism":"Container.Main","children":[{"organism":"Container.Section","children":[{"organism":"PageHeaderBanner","color":"semitransparent","model":{"title":"Anno 1989: wind van verandering waait in Europa","text":"\u003Cp\u003E1989 gaat de geschiedenisboeken in als legendarisch. Voor veel Europeanen is 1989 namelijk het jaar van vrijheid en hoop: met de val van de Berlijnse Muur en met het verdwijnen van communistische regimes in Oost-Europa. De Koude Oorlog tussen \"West\" en \"Oost\" komt ten einde. Het maakt de weg vrij voor investeringen van ook Shell in andere delen van Europa.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","links":[{"name":"For English, click here or scroll down","value":"#english"}],"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/_jcr_content/root/main/section/page_header.shellimg.jpeg/1786436847310/netherlands-venster2607-anp-6050917-jaco-klamer-web.jpeg","alt":"Een file van Trabanten trekt van Oost- naar West-Berlijn om de vrijheid van de val van de muur te beleven, 9 november 1989 (Foto: Jaco Klamer / ANP)","width":3708,"height":2455},"date":"2026-08-13T07:46:00.000Z"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section/page_header"},{"organism":"Author.Info","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section/author","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETekst:\u003C/b\u003E Marcel Burger. \u003Cb\u003EBeeld:\u003C/b\u003E Jaco Klamer/ANP (openingsfoto), Marcel Burger, Shell Polska\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003Cb\u003EPublicatie: \u003C/b\u003E13 augustus 2026\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003Cb\u003EOpeningsfoto:\u003C/b\u003E Een file van Trabanten trekt van Oost- naar West-Berlijn om de vrijheid van de val van de muur te beleven, 9 november 1989 \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E \u003C/p\u003E\r\n","links":[{}],"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/_jcr_content/root/main/section/author.shellimg.jpeg/1786099895511/netherlands-venster2607-anp-6050917-jaco-klamer-169.jpeg","alt":"Een file van Trabanten trekt van Oost- naar West-Berlijn om de vrijheid van de val van de muur te beleven, 9 november 1989 (Foto: Jaco Klamer / ANP)","width":3708,"height":2086}}},{"organism":"Container","children":[{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple/text","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHet begin van de grote omslag in Europa is in Hongarije op 11 januari 1989\u003C/b\u003E, als het Hongaarse parlement de inwoners meer vrijheid geeft, met onder meer het recht op vereniging en het recht om te protesteren.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDe veranderingen krijgen daarna in Polen vaart.\u003C/b\u003E Op 6 februari gaat de communistische regering van generaal Jaruzelski in gesprek met de vakbondsbeweging \u003Ci\u003ESolidarność \u003C/i\u003E(Solidariteit) van de charismatische leider Lech Wałęsa. De maandenlange Rondetafelgesprekken volgen op een jaar van proteststakingen tegen het regime in Warschau.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EOp 6 april verklaren de partijen dat de functie van secretaris-generaal van de Communistische Partij (Jaruzelski’s positie) wordt afgeschaft en er een gekozen president zal komen. Ook worden vakbonden gelegaliseerd en zal er een gekozen Senaat worden toegevoegd aan het Poolse parlement. Op 4 juni volgen de eerste vrije Poolse parlementsverkiezingen: Solidariteit verovert 99% van de Senaat en alle 35% aan beschikbare zetels in de Sejm — de Poolse volksvertegenwoordiging. Een jaar later wordt Lech Wałęsa president van Polen dankzij vrije presidentsverkiezingen.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIJzeren gordijn\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEen stuk naar het zuiden begint de echte fysieke afbraak van het IJzeren gordijn dat West- en Oost-Europa scheidt\u003C/b\u003E. Gevoed door de omslag in Polen en massaprotesten in eigen land beginnen de Hongaarse autoriteiten op 2 mei 1989 met \u003Cb\u003Ehet verwijderen van het 240 kilometer lange grenshek met Oostenrijk\u003C/b\u003E. Dit maakt de weg vrij voor ook duizenden in Hongarije „vakantievierende” Oost-Duitsers en toenmalige Tsjechoslowaken om naar het westen te reizen.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDit tegen het zere been van het regime van de Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR)\u003C/b\u003E, zoals Oost-Duitsland op dat moment officieel heet, en landbaas Erich Honecker. Als er in september al 30.000 Oost-Duitsers via Hongarije naar het westen zijn gevlucht, kondigt Berlijn een reisverbod af. Duizenden DDR’ers die naar de West-Duitse ambassade in Praag waren gevlucht, mogen van de West-Duitse regering in Bonn naar West-Duitsland.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMaar de wind van verandering waait niet alleen door de Oost-Duitse en Hongaarse straten. \u003Cb\u003EOok in het Kremlin staan de zaken er anders voor. Sovjet-leider Michail Gorbatsjov reist in oktober persoonlijk naar Berlijn\u003C/b\u003E voor de 40e verjaardig van de Deutsche Demokratische Republik. Honecker denkt dat Gorbatsjov hem kunt steunen, maar in werkelijkheid kom de Sovjet-leider langs om te vertellen dat het Oost-Duitse regime veranderingen moet accepteren. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n"}}],"colspan":8,"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple","model":{}},{"organism":"Container","children":[{"organism":"PromoCard","color":"brand1-solid","model":{"title":"Lees ook!","text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAnno 1965:\u003C/b\u003E Europa's langste brug ligt in Nederland\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","links":[{"name":"Lees over de Zeelandbrug","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws/shell-venster-2026/anno-1965-de-zeelandbrug.html"}],"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/_jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_884288655/promo.shellimg.jpeg/1786607251569/netherlands-venster2607-erik-vant-woud-hh-anp-89813310-169.jpeg","alt":"De Zeelandbrug op 29 april 2019 (Foto: Erik van 't Woud / Hollandse Hoogte / ANP)","width":3708,"height":2086}},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_884288655/promo"}],"colspan":4,"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_884288655","model":{}},{"organism":"StandaloneAsset","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section/standalone_asset","model":{"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/_jcr_content/root/main/section/standalone_asset.shellimg.jpeg/1786100986666/berlin150701016303marcelburger-169.jpeg","alt":"Toeristen bij de Brandenburger Tor in Berlijn. In 1945 lag de historische poort in de door de Sovjet-Unie bezette zone (Oost-Berlijn) en bleef op het grondgebied van de daarna gevormde DDR (Oost-Duitsland) tot 22 december 1989 gesloten (Foto: Marcel Burger)","caption":"Toeristen bij de Brandenburger Tor in Berlijn. In 1945 lag de historische poort in de door de Sovjet-Unie bezette zone (Oost-Berlijn) en bleef op het grondgebied van de daarna gevormde DDR (Oost-Duitsland) tot 22 december 1989 gesloten","width":3708,"height":2086}}},{"organism":"Container","children":[{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_2074631860/text","model":{"text":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cb\u003EVuur\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EVervolgens komen in de \u003Cb\u003EOost-Duitse stad Leipzig\u003C/b\u003E in oktober eerst 70.000 en later 120.000 mensen op de been in \u003Cb\u003Eanti-regeringsprotesten\u003C/b\u003E. De lokale autoriteiten negeren bevel uit Berlijn om het vuur te openen. Honecker hoopt tevergeefs dat Moskou militair ingrijpt, zoals het in Hongarije (1956) en Tsjechoslowakije (Praagse Lente in 1968) tegen volksprotesten deed. Maar \u003Cb\u003Ede Sovjet-troepen in de Oost-Europese landen krijgen dit keer het uitdrukkelijke bevel om in de kazernes te blijven.\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EOnder druk van de demonstraties en de inmiddels ook open grenzen met West-Europa in Tsjechoslowakije staat de DDR-regering op \u003Cb\u003E9 november 1989\u003C/b\u003E toe dat \u003Cb\u003EOost-Duitsers naar West-Berlijn en West-Duitsland mogen reizen\u003C/b\u003E. „Onmiddellijk, en zonder vertraging”, verklaart regeringswoordvoerder Günter Schabowski op tv.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENeerhameren\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMaar de regering verzuimt de grenswachten op de hoogte te stellen, die met geweren op de rug aanvankelijk probeert de groeiende mensenmenigte aan de oostzijde van de Berlijnse Muur tegen te houden. Zonder antwoorden van hogerhand gaan de grenswachten uiteindelijk overstag. \u003Cb\u003EHet hek is letterlijk van de dam als Oost- en West-Duitsers samen letterlijk delen van de Muur neerhameren.\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn Tsjechoslowakije (in 1993 vreedzaam uiteen als Tsjechië en Slowakije), Bulgarije, Roemenië en Albanië verdwijnen de regimes en Joegoslavië valt in een zeer pijnlijk oorlogsproces uiteen in Slovenië, Kroatië, Bosnië-Herzegowina, Servië, Montenegro, Kosovo en (Noord-)Macedonië. De hele Sovjet-Unie valt in 1991 uiteen; Estland, Letland en Litouwen worden weer vrije landen.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"}},{"organism":"StandaloneAsset","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_2074631860/standalone_asset","model":{"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/_jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_2074631860/standalone_asset.shellimg.jpeg/1786435067538/poland-shell-retail-station-2009-shellpolska-23.jpeg","alt":"Een historische foto van een Shell-tankstation in Polen, ergens tussen 2005 en 2009 gefotografeerd (Foto: Shell Polska)","caption":"Een historische foto van een Shell-tankstation in Polen, ergens tussen 2005 en 20090 gefotografeerd","width":2155,"height":1437}}},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_2074631860/text_copy","model":{"text":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cb\u003EShell Polska\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDe nieuwe koers in de Oost-Europese landen maakt de weg vrij voor investeringen van het westerse overheden en bedrijven. Ook Shell ziet kansen.\u003C/b\u003E In 1992 wordt \u003Cb\u003EShell Polska\u003C/b\u003E opgericht en in 1994 gaat in Gdańsk het eerste Poolse Shell-station open. In 2006 start\u003Cb\u003E Shell Business Operations (SBO) Kraków\u003C/b\u003E, een locatie die in personeelssterkte in twee decennia uitgroeit tot de derde in Europa van de Shell-groep — na Den Haag en Londen. Vandaag de dag ondersteunen bijna 5.000 medewerkers vanuit de Zuid-Poolse stad de Shell-groep wereldwijd — met boekhouding, financiën, logistiek, inkoop en contractbeheer, personeelsadministratie, klantenservice en bedrijfscommunicatie, ook voor Shell Nederland.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEen nieuw thuis\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDe wind van verandering in 1989 bracht volgens historici de meeste Europese landen dichter bij elkaar\u003C/b\u003E; dankzij de toetredingen tot de NAVO en de Europese Unie. Maar ook door economische verbondenheid, vrij reizen binnen het Schengen-gebied en de mogelijkheid voor EU-burgers zich gemakkelijk in andere landen van de Europese Unie te vestigen. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n"}}],"colspan":8,"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_2074631860","model":{}},{"organism":"Container","children":[{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"brand1-subtle","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_1706355164/text","model":{"title":"Ook in 1989","text":"\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E1 januari:\u003C/b\u003E de PTT wordt geprivatiseerd.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E12 maart:\u003C/b\u003E een voorstel bij CERN van Tim Berners-Lee voor het World Wide Web legt de basis van het hedendaagse internet, en dus hoe de mensheid informatie deelt.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E8 maart:\u003C/b\u003E de NMB (voorloper ING) en de Postbank fuseren.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E31 maart:\u003C/b\u003E laatste uitzending van de Fabeltjeskrant, een kinderserie.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E25 augustus:\u003C/b\u003E ruimtesonde Voyager 2 bereikt als enige (ook nu nog) ruimtevaartuig de planeet Neptunus.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E1 oktober: \u003C/b\u003Eopening van de Berendrechtsluis in Antwerpen, die tot de opening van de Kieldrechtsluis (ook in Antwerpen) in 2016 de grootste zeesluis ter wereld is.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2 oktober:\u003C/b\u003E RTL-Véronique begint met uitzenden, als eerste commerciële tv-zender gericht op Nederland.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E20 november:\u003C/b\u003E Universele Verklaring van de Rechten van het Kind wordt aangenomen door de Algemene Vergadering van de Verenigde Naties.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMuziek:\u003C/b\u003E opvallende hits van het jaar zijn \u003Ci\u003EPump up the jam\u003C/i\u003E van het Belgische duo Technotronic, \u003Ci\u003EEternal flame\u003C/i\u003E van Amerikaanse rockformatie Bangles, de \u003Ci\u003ELambada\u003C/i\u003E van de Frans-Braziliaanse groep Kaomo, \u003Ci\u003EThe Look\u003C/i\u003E van het Zweedse duo Roxette, en \u003Ci\u003EAlles kan een mens gelukkig maken \u003C/i\u003Evan René Froger & Het Goede Doel.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFilms:\u003C/b\u003E kaskrakers zijn \u003Ci\u003EIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade\u003C/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EBatman\u003C/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EBack to the Future Part II\u003C/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003ELook who’s talking\u003C/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EDead Poets Society\u003C/i\u003E en \u003Ci\u003EThe Little Mermaid\u003C/i\u003E. Opvallende Nederlandse productie is \u003Ci\u003EDe kassière\u003C/i\u003E (internationale titel: \u003Ci\u003ELily was here\u003C/i\u003E).\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003C/ul\u003E\r\n"}}],"colspan":4,"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_1706355164","model":{}}],"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section","model":{}},{"organism":"Container.Section","color":"brand1-subtle","children":[{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/text","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca id=\"english\"\u003E\u003C/a\u003EEnglish version\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"}},{"organism":"StandaloneAsset","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/standalone_asset","model":{"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/_jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/standalone_asset.shellimg.jpeg/1786433051915/netherlands-venster2607-anp-6050917-jaco-klamer-166.jpeg","alt":"A long line of Trabant cars moves from East to West Berlin, to experience the fall of the Berlin Wall, 9 November 1989  (Photo: Jaco Klamer / ANP)","caption":"A long line of Trabant cars moves from East to West Berlin, to experience the fall of the Berlin Wall, 9 November 1989 ","width":3708,"height":1391}}},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/text_241031179","model":{"text":"\u003Ch2\u003EAnno 1989: the wind of change sweeps through Europe\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E13 Aug. 2026\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E1989 has gone down in history as legendary. For many Europeans, 1989 was the year of freedom and hope: the fall of the Berlin Wall and the disappearance of communist regimes in Eastern Europe. The Cold War between \"West\" and \"East\" came to an end. It cleared the way for investments of Western companies, Shell included, in the Eastern parts of Europe.\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"}},{"organism":"Author.Info","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/author_copy","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EText:\u003C/b\u003E Marcel Burger. \u003Cb\u003EPhotography:\u003C/b\u003E Jaco Klamer/ANP (featured photo), Marcel Burger, Shell Polska.\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","links":[{}],"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/_jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/author_copy.shellimg.jpeg/1786433447702/netherlands-venster2607-anp-6050917-jaco-klamer-169.jpeg","alt":"Een file van Trabanten trekt van Oost- naar West-Berlijn om de vrijheid van de val van de muur te beleven, 9 november 1989 (Foto: Jaco Klamer / ANP)","width":3708,"height":2086}}},{"organism":"Container","children":[{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/simple/text","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe first signs of Europe’s great turning point appear in Hungary on 11 January 1989\u003C/b\u003E, when the Hungarian parliament gives citizens greater freedom, including the right of association and the right to protest.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EChange then gathers pace in Poland.\u003C/b\u003E On 6 February, the communist government of General Jaruzelski begins talks with the trade union movement \u003Ci\u003ESolidarność\u003C/i\u003E (Solidarity), led by the charismatic Lech Wałęsa. The months-long Round Table Talks follow a year of protest strikes against the regime.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EOn 6 April, the parties declare that the post of secretary-general of the Communist Party — Jaruzelski’s position — will be abolished and that there will be an elected president. Trade unions are also legalised and an elected Senate will be added to the Polish parliament. \u003Cb\u003EOn 4 June, Poland holds its first free parliamentary elections\u003C/b\u003E: Solidarity wins 99% of the Senate and all 35% of the available seats in the Sejm, Poland’s lower house. A year later, Lech Wałęsa becomes president of Poland through free presidential elections.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIron Curtain\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFarther south, the real physical dismantling of the Iron Curtain separating Western and Eastern Europe begins. \u003C/b\u003ESpurred on by the change in Poland and mass protests at home, the \u003Cb\u003EHungarian authorities\u003C/b\u003E start removing the 240-kilometre (149-miles) long border fence with \u003Cb\u003EAustria \u003C/b\u003Eon 2 May 1989. This also clears the way westwards for thousands of East Germans and Czechoslovaks “on holiday” in Hungary.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThis is a sore point for the regime of the Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR) \u003C/b\u003E— or German Democratic Republic (GDR), as East Germany is officially known at the time, and its ruler Erich Honecker. When, by September, as many as 30,000 East Germans have fled west via Hungary, \u003Cb\u003EBerlin announces a travel ban\u003C/b\u003E. Thousands of DDR citizens who had fled to the West German embassy in Prague are allowed by the West German government in Bonn to travel to West Germany.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBut the wind of change is not only blowing through the streets of East Germany and Hungary. \u003Cb\u003EThings are changing in the Kremlin too\u003C/b\u003E.\u003Cb\u003E Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev travels to Berlin\u003C/b\u003E in October for the 40th anniversary of the DDR. Honecker thinks Gorbachev will support him, but in reality the Soviet leader has come to say that the East German regime must accept change.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"}}],"colspan":8,"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/simple","model":{}},{"organism":"Container","children":[{"organism":"PromoCard","color":"brand1-solid","model":{"title":"Recommended read!","text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAnno 1965:\u003C/b\u003E Europe's longest bridge is in the Netherlands\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","links":[{"name":"Lees over de Zeelandbrug","value":"https://www.shell.nl/nieuws/shell-venster-2026/anno-1965-de-zeelandbrug.html#english"}],"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/_jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/simple_1616939789/promo_copy.shellimg.jpeg/1786436647155/netherlands-venster2607-erik-vant-woud-hh-anp-89813310-169.jpeg","alt":"De Zeelandbrug op 29 april 2019 (Foto: Erik van 't Woud / Hollandse Hoogte / ANP)","width":3708,"height":2086}},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/simple_1616939789/promo_copy"}],"colspan":4,"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/simple_1616939789","model":{}},{"organism":"StandaloneAsset","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/standalone_asset_cop","model":{"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/_jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/standalone_asset_cop.shellimg.jpeg/1786434216916/berlin150701016303marcelburger-169.jpeg","alt":"Tourists at the Brandenburger Tor in Berlin. In 1945 this historic gate was situated in the Soviet occupied zone (East Berlijn) and remained within the afterwords formed DDR (GDR/East Germany). The landmark passway only reopened on 22 December 1989 (Photo: Marcel Burger)","caption":"Tourists at the Brandenburger Tor in Berlin. In 1945 this historic gate was situated in the Soviet occupied zone (East Berlijn) and remained within the afterwords formed DDR (GDR/East Germany). The landmark passway only reopened on 22 December 1989","width":3708,"height":2086}}},{"organism":"Container","children":[{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/simple_16524950/text","model":{"text":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFire\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn October, first 70,000 and later 120,000 people take to the streets in the East German city of \u003Cb\u003ELeipzig\u003C/b\u003E in \u003Cb\u003Eanti-government protests\u003C/b\u003E. The local authorities ignore orders from Berlin to open fire. \u003Cb\u003EHonecker hopes in vain that Moscow will intervene militarily, \u003C/b\u003Eas it did in Hungary in 1956 and in Czechoslovakia during the Prague Spring of 1968, to suppress popular protests. But this time, Soviet troops in Eastern European countries are given explicit orders to remain in their barracks.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EUnder pressure from the demonstrations and the now-open borders with Western Europe in Czechoslovakia, \u003Cb\u003Ethe DDR government allows East Germans to travel to West Berlin and West Germany on 9 November 1989\u003C/b\u003E. “Immediately, without delay,” government spokesman Günter Schabowski declares on television.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHammering down\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBut the government fails to inform the border guards, who initially try, rifles on their backs, to hold back the growing crowds on the eastern side of the Berlin Wall. \u003Cb\u003EWith no answers from their superiors, the border guards eventually give way.\u003C/b\u003E The floodgates literally open as East and West Germans together begin hammering down sections of the Wall.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn Czechoslovakia (they split up peacefully in 1993), Bulgaria, Romania and Albania, the regimes disappear. While in a deeply painful process of war Yugoslavia breaks apart into Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo and (North) Macedonia. The entire Soviet Union collapses in 1991; Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania become independent countries once again.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"}},{"organism":"StandaloneAsset","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/simple_16524950/standalone_asset_cop","model":{"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/_jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/simple_16524950/standalone_asset_cop.shellimg.jpeg/1786435055753/poland-shell-retail-station-2009-shellpolska-23.jpeg","alt":"Historical photo of a Shell petrol station in Poland, taken between 2005 and 2009 (Photo: Shell Polska)","caption":"Historical photo of a Shell petrol station in Poland, taken between 2005 and 2009","width":2155,"height":1437}}},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/simple_16524950/text_1049109065","model":{"text":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cb\u003EShell Polska\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe new direction taken by Eastern European countries paves the way for investment by Western governments and companies. Shell also sees opportunities. \u003C/b\u003EIn 1992, Shell Polska is established, and in 1994 the first Polish Shell service station opens in Gdańsk. In 2006, Shell Business Operations (SBO) Kraków opens. Within the two decades that follow, the campus in Poland's second largest city grows into the Shell Group’s third biggest location in Europe, after the Shell Campus The Hague and London Centre.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EToday in Kraków, almost 5,000 employees support the Shell Group worldwide — with accounting, finance, logistics, procurement and contract management, HR administration, customer service and corporate communications, including for Shell Netherlands.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA new home\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAccording to historians, the wind of change of 1989 brought most European countries closer together\u003C/b\u003E through accession to NATO and the European Union, but also through economic ties, free travel within the Schengen area and the easier opportunity for EU citizens to settle in other countries.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"}}],"colspan":8,"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/simple_16524950","model":{}},{"organism":"Container","children":[{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"brand1","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/simple_1750994872/text_copy","model":{"title":"This also happened in 1989","text":"\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E12 March: \u003C/b\u003Ea proposal at CERN by Tim Berners-Lee for the World Wide Web lays the foundations for today’s internet, and therefore for the way humanity shares information.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E25 August: \u003C/b\u003Espace probe Voyager 2 becomes the only spacecraft — still today — to reach the planet Neptune.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E1 October: \u003C/b\u003Ethe Berendrecht Lock opens in Antwerp, Belgium, remaining the world’s largest sea lock until the opening of the Kieldrecht Lock, also in Antwerp, in 2016.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E20 November:\u003C/b\u003E the United Nations General Assembly adopts the Convention on the Rights of the Child.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMusic:\u003C/b\u003E notable hits of the year include \u003Ci\u003EPump Up the Jam\u003C/i\u003E by Belgian duo Technotronic, \u003Ci\u003EEternal Flame\u003C/i\u003E by American rock band The Bangles, \u003Ci\u003ELambada\u003C/i\u003E by French-Brazilian group Kaoma, and \u003Ci\u003EThe Look\u003C/i\u003E by Swedish duo Roxette.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFilms: \u003C/b\u003Ebox-office hits include \u003Ci\u003EIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade\u003C/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EBatman\u003C/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EBack to the Future Part II\u003C/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003ELook Who’s Talking\u003C/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003EDead Poets Society\u003C/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003EThe Little Mermaid\u003C/i\u003E. \u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003C/ul\u003E\r\n"}}],"colspan":4,"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549/simple_1750994872","model":{}}],"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/main/section_153587549","model":{}},{"organism":"Container.Section","color":"brand1-solid","children":[{"organism":"Container.XF","children":[{"organism":"Container.Section","color":"brand1-solid","children":[{"organism":"PromoCard","color":"brand1","model":{"title":"Meer 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verandering","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering.html"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/footer/breadcrumb"},{"organism":"Container.Raw","ref":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/_jcr_content/root/footer/inherited.model.json","id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/footer/inherited","model":{}}],"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content/root/footer","model":{}}],"id":"/conf/shell/settings/wcm/templates/base/structure/jcr_content/root","model":{}}],"model":{"title":"Anno 1989: Europa en de wind van verandering","text":"1989 gaat de geschiedenisboeken in als legendarisch. Voor veel Europeanen is 1989 namelijk het jaar van vrijheid en hoop: met de val van de Berlijnse Muur en met het verdwijnen van communistische regimes in Oost-Europa. De Koude Oorlog tussen \"West\" en \"Oost\" komt ten einde. Het maakt de weg vrij voor investeringen van ook Shell in andere delen van Europa.","date":"2026-08-13T07:46:00.000Z","links":[{"name":"canonical","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering.html"},{"name":"hierarchy","value":"nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering"},{"name":"homeTitle","value":"Over ons"},{"name":"homeUrl","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons.html"},{"name":"locale","value":"nl-NL"},{"name":"title","value":"Anno 1989: Europa en de wind van verandering | Over ons"},{"name":"textDirection","value":"ltr"},{"name":"template","value":"base"},{"name":"contentPath","value":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering"},{"name":"externalDisclaimerText","value":"Juridische Disclaimer Shell plc\r\n\r\nU verlaat nu de website van Shell in Nederland.\r\n\r\nDe link die u hebt geselecteerd verwijst naar een website die niet is gecontroleerd door Shell plc of een lid van de Shell Group. De informatie en het materiaal op de gekoppelde website worden op geen enkele manier door Shell plc, noch enig ander lid van de Shell Group bevestigd, aangenomen, gecertificeerd of op enige andere manier gevalideerd. Hieronder vallen de sponsor van de website en eventueel beleid en eventuele activiteiten en diensten die op de website worden aangeboden, door enige adverteerder op de website of die aan de website is verbonden.\r\n\r\nBedankt voor uw bezoek aan de website van Shell in Nederland."},{"name":"themeMode"},{"name":"lastModified","value":"2026-08-13T07:47:31.580Z"},{"name":"themeName","value":"base"},{"name":"themePath","value":"/etc.clientlibs/amidala/clientlibs/theme-base"},{"name":"themeCss","value":"/etc.clientlibs/amidala/clientlibs/theme-base.ACSHASHb291465fc8d3c7bcefde74d34044b698.css"}],"tags":[{"name":"Geschiedenis","value":"shell:netherlands/shell-venster-magazine/geschiedenis"}],"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/_jcr_content/root/metadata.shellimg.jpeg/1786099418028/netherlands-venster2607-anp-6050917-jaco-klamer-169.jpeg","alt":"Een file van Trabanten trekt van Oost- naar West-Berlijn om de vrijheid van de val van de muur te beleven, 9 november 1989 (Foto: Jaco Klamer / ANP)","width":3708,"height":2086}},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster-2026/anno-1989-europa-en-de-wind-van-verandering/jcr_content"}