Dow's Lake in Ottawa, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
"Our Canadians"/« Nos canadiens »
The Liberation of the Netherlands/La libération des Pays-Bas
| — | The Tulip Legacy/ | — |
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 14, 2025
1. "Our Canadians"/« Nos canadiens » Marker
By the "Hunger Winter" of 1944-1945, food rations were so slim that people were eating tulip bulbs and potato peelings. With the threat of 3.5 million people dying of starvation, Canadian forces negotiated a truce to deliver food relief in late April 1945. By early May, Germany surrendered, and Canadian soldiers advanced across the Netherlands. Ecstatic crowds greeted the liberators with cheers. Many were overcome with emotion, and wept with relief as the soldiers passed.
"Our trains and street cars go again, we have coals for our stoves and food for our children. That was your work."
Letter from the editorship of Our Free Holland, 1946
[Photo captions, left to right, read]
• Rifleman R.M. Douglas of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles with a group of Dutch women celebrating the liberation of Deventer, Netherlands, April 10, 1945.
• Canadian Private A. Longuépée talking with a Dutch child, ca. 1945.
À « l'hiver de la faim » de 1944-1945, les rations alimentaires étaient si maigres que les gens mangeaient des bulbes de tulipe et des pelures de pommes de terre. Devant la menace de 3,5 millions de personnes mourant de faim, les Forces canadiennes ont négocié une trève pour acheminer des vivres à la fin d'avril 1945. Au début de mai, les Allemands se sont rendus et les soldats canadiens ont avancé en sol néerlandais. Les foules ont accueilli les libérateurs par des manifestations de joie. Beaucoup étaient emportés par l'émotion et versaient des larmes de soulagement au passage des soldats.
« Nos trains et nos tramways peuvent maintenant rouler, nous avons du charbon pour nos fourneaux et de la nourriture pour nos enfants. »
Lettre de la rédaction de Our Free Holland, 1946
[Légendes des photos, de gauche à droite, lire]
• Le carabinier R.M. Douglas des Royal Winnipeg Rifles et un groupe de Néerlandaises célèbrent la libération de Deventer, aux Pays-Bas, le 10 avril 1945.
• Le soldat A. Longuépée parle avec un enfant, v. 1945.
Erected by Government
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Historic Sites and Monuments Board, and the Canadian Tulip Festival, Ottawa series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1945.
Location. 45° 23.868′ N, 75° 42.129′ W. Marker is in Ottawa, Ontario. It is in Dow's Lake. It is at the intersection of Dow's Lake Road and Madawaska Drive, on the right when traveling south on Dow's Lake Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ottawa ON K1S 5K7, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Ontario. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Gift of Tulips/
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 14, 2025
2. The Tulip Legacy/Les tulipes de l'amitié Markers
Also see . . . Liberation of the Netherlands. Veterans Affairs Canada website entry (Submitted on June 1, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 102 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 1, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 2. submitted on May 31, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
