Redeemer students plant tulip bulbs to celebrate the liberation of the Netherlands by Canadian soldiers
This year, the Netherlands celebrated 75 years of liberation from Nazi occupation. After the Second World War, Princess Juliana gifted 100,000 tulip bulbs to Canadians for their role in liberating the Dutch and providing refuge for her family during the war. On this special 75th anniversary celebration, Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet, who was born in Ottawa, reached out to Canadian schools and students by extending to them the gift of tulip bulbs and an education resource.
Redeemer was one of 1,100 schools in Canada to receive a package of tulip bulbs. The goal of the Dutch is to cover the country in 1.1 million Liberation75 tulips in honour of the 1.1 million Canadians who served during the Second World War. Earlier this month, a few students planted the tulips in our front flower beds. In the spring, beautiful orange tulips will bloom to remind us of the gratitude of the Netherlands and of the brave soldiers who fought for both their freedom and ours.
If you are interested in learning more about the 75 Years of Freedom campaign, you can visit the Liberation75 website. Below is a link to a short video from the Dutch ambassador to Canada, Henk van der Zwan, who talks about what 75 Years of Freedom means to him and the people of the Netherlands.