Veterans' Day, The Netherlands

Saturday 28th June was Veterans' Day in The Netherlands. Traditionally, the country pays homage, on the last Saturday of June (closest to 29 June), to veterans who served the Netherlands in wars or international peacekeeping operations. This date was chosen because it was the birthday of the late Prince Bernhard, who was the father of Queen Beatrix, and a war veteran himself.

We were in the centre of The Hague on Saturday morning and found ourselves amidst preparations for the Veterans' Day parade and celebrations. My photo here shows part of a stage setting (clearly meant for a concert to take place later on that day). But what was interesting to me were the flags on show, i.e. the Canadian, Dutch and British flags.

Before I moved here, I had absolutely no idea of the key role that the Canadian army played in the liberation of The Netherlands, at the end of WW2, how they gave shelter the to the Dutch royal family in Canada itself during and post-war, and, therefore, the gratitude shown to the Canadians.

In fact, I have it on good authority from a Canadian friend here, that the Canadian ambassador's residence and grounds, which is the largest and most spectacular of them all in this country, was gifted by the Dutch people to the Canadians, in gratitude, after WW2.