Liberation of the Netherlands National Historic Event
The liberation of the Netherlands was designated a national historic event in 2000.
Historical importance: Canadian services contributions to the liberation of Holland, the German surrender and VE Day during World War II
Commemorative plaque: no plaque installed in CanadaFootnote 1
The Liberation of the Netherlands
Canada brought liberty and life to the Netherlands at the end of the Second World War. Between October 1944 and May 1945, with fierce fighting and heavy loss of life, the Canadian military opened the Scheldt estuary and the port of Antwerp to Allied supplies, cleared much of the country of the enemy, and fed a Dutch people left starving by the Nazi occupier. On May 5, 1945 in Wageningen, the Germans surrendered to Canadian Lieutenant-General Charles Foulkes and H.R.H. Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, commander of the Dutch armed forces. The bonds of friendship forged between Canada and the Netherlands stand strong to this day.
Bevrijding van Nederland
Canada bracht in Nederland vrijheid en een nieuw leven aan het einde van de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Tussen oktober 1944 en mei 1945 veroverde de Canadese krijgsmacht, na hevige gevechten en een enorm verlies aan manschappen, de Scheldemonding en de Antwerpse haven, de weg vrij makend voor bevoorrading van de geallieerden, verjoeg de vijand uit een groot deel van het land en verstrekte voedsel aan het door de Nazibezetter uitgehongerde Nederlandse volk. Op 5 mei 1945 gaven de Duiters zich in Wageningen over aan de Canadese luitenantgeneraal Charles Foulkes en aan Z.K.H. Prins Bernhard der Nederlanden, bevelhebber van de Nederlandse strijdkrachten. De vriendschapsbanden die toen gesmeed werden tussen Canada en Nederland houden tot op de dag van vandaag stevig stand.
The National Program of Historical Commemoration relies on the participation of Canadians in the identification of places, events and persons of national historic significance. Any member of the public can nominate a topic for consideration by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
Related links
- National historic designations
- National historic persons
- National historic sites designations
- National historic events
- Submit a nomination
- The Canadian Encyclopedia: Liberation of the Netherlands
- Heritage Minute (Historica Canada): Liberation of the Netherlands
- Canadian War Museum: Liberation! Canada and the Netherlands 1944-1945
- Veterans Affairs: The Liberation of the Netherlands
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