Since World War II Ended, the People of Netherlands Have Given Canada 20,000 Tulip Bulbs Every Year

When the Germans invaded and took control of the Netherlands in 1940, Dutch Princess Juliana and her two children fled the nation. This was during the Second World War. Her third child was born in Ottawa when she immigrated to Canada. For the remainder of the war, she stayed in Canada. During the war, a number of other notable Dutch citizens and aristocracy found refuge in exile in Canada, where they were welcomed and treated with kindness by the government and Canadians.

As a token of goodwill and thanks, the Dutch have given thousands of tulip bulbs to Canada since 1945. The precise amount of bulbs that are shipped from the Netherlands to Canada each year is difficult to estimate, but the Dutch Royal Family and the Dutch people annually send thousands—up to 20,000—of bulbs, which are then planted in beds near Ottawa.

Tulips represent more than just a yearly token of gratitude for Canadian hospitality. Additionally, they represent the costs paid by Canadian soldiers during the liberation of Belgium and the Netherlands in 1944 and 1945. Every spring, Canadians and their guests enjoy the tulips, a Dutch symbol signifying the long-standing friendship between the Netherlands and Canada.