It is very heartwarming for me to see the two countries that mean so much to me share such an intense relationship based on heroism/sacrifice and profound relentless gratitude.
My pride for Canada should be simply evident.
My pride for my people in the Netherlands who won’t forget the Canadian soldiers, even after 65 years results from the national character that continues to make such great effort to show gratitude.
As part of my job, I do a Military History Puppet show and the story that has gotten the best reaction is the Op MANNA story about the Allies sending food drops over the starving Netherlands.
The kids are always so proud when they hear that the first crew to fly their Lancaster over was Canadian.
Makes me proud to be a Canadian in uniform (who is also Dutch).
The Netherlanders have done a better job than most of not taking the assistance of others for granted.
Speaking as an American, I’ve always thought they found a creative way to express their gratitude to the United States: the Netherlands Carillon. It beats another stone obelisk.
Although Ottawa’s tulip festival doesn’t officially get underway until this weekend, I was at one of the venues last weekend and noticed a new display commemorating the friendship of our two nations, including the birth of Princess Margriet at the Ottawa Civic Hospital in 1943.
Heck, I’m originally from Scotland but I consider myself a full-fledged Canadian. Reading stories about the relationship between Canada and The Netherlands is an emotional experience for me. (Of course maybe it’s because my high school sweetheart’s parents were Dutch immigrants! ;))
My late uncle, a Canadian Navy veteran, was honoured by the Netherlands government for his war service and was sent several hundred tulip bulbs in thanks. He was an avid gardener and was thrilled by the gift.
He was a “Hero of the Soviet Union” too - he was given a medal by the Russian government in thanks for his service in the Battle of the Atlantic and his time on the Murmansk Run.
He was quite a character.
When Herr 'spiel and I were stationed in Germany with the Canadian Forces in the early 80s, we went on holiday in the Netherlands around the time of the anniversary of the Liberation. We could not pay for anything if the Canadian NATO plates were spotted. Himself used to participate in the Nijmegen Marches as well - blister city but he felt honoured to participate.
What a great story. Huzzah for the Canadian heroes who helped free the Dutch, and huzzah again for the Dutch who still remember their sacrifice and courage.
These stories always make me tear up a little bit - I can’t speak for the military people, of course, but I can only imagine that the last reason that they did what they did was in the hopes of being honoured for it some day by a foreign country.
ETA: I mean that it is an additional honour, not that it doesn’t mean anything.
I was born and raised in Canada but spent a couple years living in The Netherlands when I was around nine years old.
I was present when Canadian veterans returned and paraded through through the streets of Amsterdam on their tanks one year. The gratitude expressed by the people was amazing. They filled the streets and lined the parade, clapping non-stop for what seemed like hours. They threw roses on the tanks, cried, and kissed the soldiers. Memories were still very fresh back then (and still are?). This was back in 1980. It was amazing.
Lahr - '79 through '83. Kids went to Gutenberg School and then GG Vanier (both in French Immersion). They got an education unparalleled by anything in Canada except the most expensive private school’s. Himself was the NATO Command ATO/IED specialist and I worked at the Forces TV station, CFN/RFC. It was the best of times.
One of the greatest parts of that story is the Canadian government’s willingness to declare the maternity ward of Ottawa Civic Hospital as extraterritorial before the princess’ birth, so that she would be born not as a Canadian but as a Dutch citizen. True class.
Westend kid myself, 90-93, but I agree; the education level was fantastic (not to mention the awesome class trips; Rhine cruise, sleeping in a castle, ski week in Switzerland? Awesome!). My mom still goes on and on about the support, services and availability of material and equipment she had when she taught at Gutenberg (Annex and then Primary). There was just so much more money than what school boards here can ever hope to get!
My father gave up managing a 4-star hotel to move to Europe…he managed the Pizza Pronto. 07821 51011! He’s managing golf courses now.
Now that the bases are closed, it’s weird to me how no one else will ever experience that again. I’m still in touch with a lot of my school friends, and we all have “did that really happen?” moments! Lahr will always be "home’ to me, in a small way!
