Netherlands 70th Anniversary

Amsterdam to Arnhem

On May 4, 2015 we traveled to the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten to celebrate the Liberation of Holland.  The ceremony was held in the cemetery. Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke and the Princess of Holland was in attendance.  The town of Holten celebrates every year and the children lay flowers on the graves of the soldiers who died in the second world war.  Each child is also responsible for keeping a soldiers grave cared for thus helping generations to remember what these men did for their country.

Holten Cemetery Ceremony

Poppies are dropped at the end of the ceremony.

After the ceremony we travelled to Arnhem and saw the "Bridge too Far".  During this bridge was too far for troops to get to and gain control of the river crossing during WWI. 

On May 5 the Netherlands celebrates the official end of World War I.  The town of Wageningen holds a celebration and parade.  The town of Wageningen is significant as the peace treaty was signed between the allies and Germany which ended WWI.  There is an eternity flame across from the hotel were the treaty signed.  The liberation parade winds through the city centre and consists of army vehicles, veterans, numerous military regiments and bands.

During the evening we made a trip to Deventer for their Tattoo.  The evening performance was held in a football (soccer) stadium.  There were several bands from Holland and two pipe and drum bands from Canada.  The most unusual band rode bicycles and played their instruments at the same time without running into each other.  This was outstanding!!  The evening was topped with a fireworks display that easily surpassed some of our July 1 fireworks displays.



From Arnhem we leave the Netherlands for Belgium to the town of Burges.