Sharing in the 80th anniversary of the Netherlands Liberation

Sunny South News Photo Submitted 80TH ANNIVERSARY: Picture Butte author Julie Sinke, and her daughter, Taber artist and illustrator for Sinke’s new book “Canada and the Netherlands: A World War II Story”, recently returned from the Netherlands, where they took part in several commemorative events for the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands, May 2-5, that included meeting Canadian veterans and the annual parade and memorial service in Holten.

• Picture Butte author and daughter travel overseas for commemorative events 

By Kristine Jean
Sunny South News

While Canadians at home marked the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands in early May, Julia Sinke from Picture Butte and her daughter Abigayle Rozendaal from Taber were experiencing the gratitude of the Dutch people first hand, after travelling overseas for commemorative events May 2-5.

The mother-daughter duo spent time in the Apeldoorn area for several days, meeting with 20 Canadian WWII veterans and giving them each a copy of Sinke’s new book, “Canada and The Netherlands: A World War II Story.” They also took part in the annual parade and attended the memorial service at the Canadian cemetery in Holten.       

“It was a wonderful trip. It was such a proud moment to be Canadian, to have our veterans honoured and celebrated,” said Sinke. “The gratitude of the Dutch was as it always has been for the past 80 years – incredible displays of gratitude and affection towards the Canadians.”

For Rozendaal, meeting the Canadian veterans, who fought for freedom and helped liberate the Netherlands, was her favourite part of the trip.  

“To read about veterans and Word War II in a textbook or to meet with veterans personally, is an entirely different experience,” said Rozendaal. “It came full circle for me, when I realized that these were the people who had liberated my great grandparents. We will never forget this amazing experience.”

Sinke said tens of thousand of people crowded the sidewalks for more than a kilometre on the street named The Loo Laan on May 3, for the annual parade.

Adults and children waved Canadian flags, clapped and cheered for the veterans, she added, while military members marched to pipes and drum bands, and children gave veterans gifts and tulips. 

The gratitude of the Dutch people was on full display during their trip she noted, pointing out how Dutch residents across the region placed Dutch and Canadian flags side by side on their properties, some with large signs that read “thank you Canada. We will never forget.” 

She described the “solemn and special” memorial service at the Canadian cemetery in Holten, where Canada’s Governor General, Mary Simon, shared a few words and Dutch children placed red and white roses on the graves of more than one thousand fallen Canadian soldiers, and spoke the soldier’s name aloud.  

“It was beautiful. It was emotional – a few times we were in tears,” she said.      

Princess Margriet, the Dutch princess born in Ottawa during the Second World War, which is shared in Sinke’s book, was also in attendance and laid a wreath at the cenotaph. 

The experience has inspired Sinke and her daughter to carry on the “torch of remembrance” in Canada, especially among school-aged children. 

“The heavy weight that we have felt, is that we have the responsibility of sharing what they did, the sacrifices they made to help oppressed and hungry people,” said Sinke. “Canadians brought food and freedom to the Dutch people.” 

While in the Netherlands, Sinke and Rozendaal held a book signing at a bookstore in Rijssen, a town close to Holten. They sent a copy of the book to the Dutch Royal Family as well.    

“When the Dutch say we will never forget, I truly believe that from the bottom of my heart. It’s 80 years later and you can still see the gratitude everywhere – in their expressions, in the Canadian flags, and in the beautiful way the Canadian cemetery is taken care of,” said Sinke.  “The gratitude is still there 80 years later.”    

To order a copy of “Canada and The Netherlands: A World War II Story” email julia@booksbyjuliasinke.com