The Netherlands Carillon was a Gift from the People of the Netherlands to the People of the United States
A 127-foot steel tower rises in Arlington, Virginia, not far from the George Washington Parkway and within sight of the Marine Corps War Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Bells in the tower chime once every fifteen minutes. Visitors are attracted to the Netherlands Carillon by its music, which offers guest artist concerts during the summer. It is a grand carillon with 53 bells that were all made in Holland. Before being shipped for installation, the hand-cast and -crafted bells were inscribed with poetry and carved with symbols. The etchings represent Dutch art and culture.
United Kingdom In appreciation for America's assistance to liberate the Dutch people from the Nazis during World War II, the Dutch people gave the United States Carillon as a gift. The gift is more than just a bell tower because it is surrounded by floral gardens, which in the spring naturally feature tulips. It is a musical instrument that may be rented for both public and exclusive events. It must be maintained on a regular basis, including the keyboard and bells that are used to play them as an instrument.
The carillon, which had 49 bells when it was first consecrated on May 5, 1960, has since been extended, first to 50 bells in 1995 and then to 53 in 2021. The steel tower was renovated in the twenty-first century while all the bells were taken down and sent back to the Netherlands for repair. The Netherlands-America Foundation provided funding for the refurbishment and continues to do so. The Netherlands Carillon, a gift that is frequently visited, seen, and heard, serves as a sign of Dutch gratitude and of friendship between the peoples of the Netherlands and the United States.
