A Canadians Bridge in Zutphe, Netherlands that pays tribute to Canadian soldiers that liberated the country in World War II. ID 201417015 © Wirestock | Dreamstime.com

By Curtis Galbraith

Community

Veterans Memorial Gardens hosting ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands

Jun 27, 2025 | 1:00 PM

Grande Prairie’s Veterans Memorial Gardens will host a ceremony on Saturday to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands by Canadian soldiers in World War II.

A release says this day will honour 37 soldiers from northwestern Alberta who died in the fight to liberate the country.

Photo credit: Veterans Memorial Gardens.

A ceremony will start at 3 p.m. Saturday with the planting of 80 metal tulips at the gardens, a display that will be called “Tulips & Triumphs.”

The gardens says the tulips are “available for sponsorship.”

An evening celebration that will include supper, speakers, and music will start at 6 p.m. at D Company Armouries.

“Through our commemorative tulip sales and this special event, we continue to honor their memory and celebrate the lasting friendship between our nations,” says Gardens Museum Manager Renee Charbonneau in that same release.

The special guest for the occasion will be the Edmonton-based Honourary Consul for the Kingdom of the Netherlands Jerry Bouma.

Anyone who wants to go can contact the Veterans Memorial Gardens at (780) 933-0182 or email exec.director@motorcycletourism.ca for tickets.