Dutch Liberation Day honoured with flag raising ceremony

Events were held around Simcoe County Monday to commemorate and honour the 80th anniversary of Dutch Liberation Day.

Simon Beekhuizen lives in Barrie and immigrated to Canada from Holland after the Second World War. He says he remembers the night that Canadians came into his town, The Hague.

“We lived on the outskirts of The Hague and waited with many others for the Canadians to come and I saw the tanks, carriers, and trucks coming,” said Beekhuizen. “There was a motorcycle rider who came and gave me a chocolate bar.”

Beekhuizen added he remembers Holland before the Canadians arrived.

“Just absolute wonder because we had been used to the Germans marching through our town, and we had to be careful at night, explained Beekhuizen. “We had to be aware of the sirens going off and seeking shelter at times.”

Since the liberation, the Dutch have always gone out of their way to thank Canadians whenever they can.

“They look after the war graves, and we have to remember that 174,000 Canadians who came to the Netherlands, about 7,400 passed away,” said Beekhuizen. We must remember that not only our liberators who came in, but the ones who gave their lives so we could be free.”

The township of Bradford West Gwillimbury held a flag raising ceremony Monday to honour Dutch Liberation Day.

The town has raised a Dutch flag outside the courthouse for the last five years.

James Leduc, mayor of Bradford says they are proud to fly the Dutch flag and honour the community in the area.

“It’s a somber one, but it reminds us how we work together to create a democracy, and this was a very important, (moment) liberation for the Dutch,” said Leduc. “It was important because Canadians were very involved in that and we’re all proud that we are there for the Dutch and the Dutch are here for us.”

Albert Wierenga, organizer of the flag ceremony has been involved since the town began raising the flag and says watching the flag fly in the town has always had a special place in his heart.

“The flag for me is that’s my roots as an immigrant and technically, you always have one foot in the old country and one foot here,” said Wierenga. I am totally Canadian, but my cultural background, my emotional background was shaped in Holland.”

Steven Glover, historian at the Barrie Legion says more people are forgetting about days like May 5 which is why it is important to have commemorations.

“The situation is we do not remember what has happened today,” said Glover. “It is important to remember, it is important to get those stories out and we are doing the best we can at the Barrie Legion.”

The flag raising ceremony is one of many events happening around Simcoe County this week as the country prepares to honour the 80th anniversary of the Victory in Europe Day on May 8.

The Barrie Legion will hold a Victory in Europe Parade on May 8.