May 8th, 2020 marks the 75^th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) - the official end of the Second World War in Europe following Germany's unconditional surrender. 

During the Second World War (1939 to 1945), more than a million Canadians served in the armed forces, suffering 42,000 casualties with tens of thousands more wounded or held in prisoner of war camps. 

Canadian troops battled fiercely in Europe and led the liberation of the Netherlands from Nazi German occupation in April 1945. As thanks for their valiant efforts, and for providing refuge in Ottawa for members of the Dutch Royal Family during the war, Princess Juliana gifted 100,000 tulip bulbs to Canadians. The Netherlands has presented Canada with 20,000 bulbs every year since, creating the inspiration in 1953 for the very first Canadian Tulip Festival in the National Capital Region. 

As part of the 75^th anniversary of VE Day, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Canada has also presented a gift of special commemorative ‘Liberation75’ tulip bulbs to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Planted around the flag poles on the Legislature’s south grounds at Queen’s Park, the vibrant orange tulips with crown-shaped petals will soon be in bloom, also serving as a reminder of the contributions and sacrifices made by Ontarians and Canadians to bring about the end of the Second World War.  

Ontario’s Legislature is honoured to share the gift of tulips from our friends, the Dutch people, with the citizens of our province as we remember VE Day, and the events that created a permanent bond of friendship between our two countries. 

For more information about VE Day, the liberation of the Netherlands during the Second World War, and the Liberation75 tulip program in Canada, visit the Liberation75.ca web site.