Carrying on where I left off yesterday, more photographs of this display in City Hall about the wartime connections of Canada and the Netherlands, and the enduring bond of friendship ever since. The Tulip Festival, The Man With Two Hats sculpture, and the Flentrop Organ, which resides in the National Arts Centre today, are examples of that friendship.
Princess Juliana spent the war raising her daughters in Ottawa, but working tirelessly to keep attention to her occupied Netherlands. More photographs of Juliana, by Yousuf Karsh, are seen here.
When Margriet was born, it was a momentous occasion. The Canadian government at the time designated the maternity suite as extraterritorial. Her godparents would be many, and her christening at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church would be attended by many, including her parents and her grandmother, Queen Wilhelmina, who made the journey from Britain, where she spent the war ceaselessly rallying her people. These two photographs by Karsh are from that day.
This is a copy of the 1943 birth certificate in Dutch, elaborately surrounded.
The liberation of the Netherlands by Canadian soldiers at the end of the war resulted in one of the strongest friendships of countries and a positive outcome of a war. Those faces say so much. For me, a first generation Canadian of Dutch parents, it's emotional.
The path led me upstairs. Outside the executive boardroom, accompanied by national, provincial, and city flags, is the coat of arms, rendered as a three dimensional sculpture mounted on the brick wall, which I believe would be the original portion of the building before expansions later in the 19th century.
Inside, art in various styles adorns the walls.
I like this fireplace with mantle clock.
The regalia of a mayor is discussed here. Ottawa has had some good mayors, and some not so good mayors.
These robes feel very Canadian.
One last view from inside, down the long corridor.
The problem with proper history collections is that they tend to depend on items from senior royals, church leaders, military leaders and other authorities. So what a pleasure seeing less formal histories like the liberation of the Netherlands by Canadian soldiers at the end of the war. Less formal perhaps, but more meaningful to ordinary citizens.
ReplyDeleteTrue.
DeleteSo war, for once, had something good.
ReplyDeleteIt did.
DeleteSo nice to see the birth of the Dutch Princes so well documented in the museum. The Canadians were very sweet to the Netherlands.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's mutual.
Deleteyou just showed the rest of us a free tour inside the museum
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteEs normal, que se trasladarán a un lugar más seguro durante la guerra. Peligraba la seguridad de la familia.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteIt’s too bad that many other international relationships have not endured in the same manner as Dutch/Canadian amity.
ReplyDeleteTrue.
Delete...Yousuf Karsh was a master!
ReplyDeleteHe was.
DeleteWonderful tour and photographs, I like the coat of arms. Take care, have a happy day and a great new week!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteSo much of history.
ReplyDeleteThere is.
DeleteI had a great g grandmother from the Netherlands, named Zylstra. Loved hearing about the Canadian Dutch connection through the war years. No wonder there's a tulip festival there!
ReplyDeleteNear where I grew up, there was a family by that name.
DeleteThere's a large Dutch population here so I hear stories about Holland and the war.
ReplyDeleteThe Dutch connection is strong.
DeleteThanks for the wonderful tour and photos, William.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
DeleteWonderful series of Hall of History photos ~
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Thank you.
DeleteIt is quite an interesting place, William.
ReplyDeleteIt is.
DeleteSoldiers from PEI were involved in the liberation of the Netherlands. Lots of Dutch people moved to this island too.
ReplyDeleteNot surprising.
DeleteAnother fine example of Canadian-Dutch/Frisian friendship was shown again this year on Liberation Day. A liberation route with army vehicles passed through Fryslân on Friday 5 May. The last living Canadian veteran Jim Parks, who was involved in the liberation of the province in 1945, was present.as guest of honor again.
ReplyDeleteThat is something to see.
Deletealways enjoy learning. thank you for the new knowledge. hope u r well this week. rainy today. take care. ( ;
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
DeleteI enjoyed this very much. A fascinating part of history. Thanks William, as always, beautifully documented.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
DeleteSome cool informative photos William, the lady in the photos was neat to learn about.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI can see, given your heritage, that the Canadian/Netherlands relationship and their history would be powerful and yes, emotional. It fascinates me. I loved that fireplace with the clock, too.
ReplyDeleteMe too.
DeleteWow! That is so cool about your family!
ReplyDeleteI think so.
Delete