The annual Canadian Tulip Festival is underway in Ottawa which has me reminiscing about our visit to the festival last year. Tulips were originally gifted to Canada by the Netherlands as a thank you for providing a safe haven to the Dutch Royal Family during World War II and in 1953 a festival was established to occur at the time that the flowers bloomed each spring. It has continued to expand each year and now features more than 1 million tulips in Canada’s Capital Region.
Emma and I arrived in Ottawa at the tail end of last year’s festival and enjoyed searching for tulips even though they were nearly finished blooming. We were told that the best flowers could be found in Commissioners Park so we headed there. We had a lovely walk in the park enjoying what blooms there were and then we happened upon this huge statue of a man holding two hats.
Like the tulips that are the focus of the festival, the statue Man With Two Hats which stands in Commissioners Park was gifted to Canada in thanks for the role that Canadian soldiers played in liberating the Netherlands during the Second World War.
The monument was designed by Dutch artist, Henk Visch, and an identical statue stands in Apeldoorn in the Netherlands. According to the commemorative plaque “the twin monuments symbolically link Canada and the Netherlands, though separated by an ocean, the two countries will forever be close friends“. The two hats are said to symbolize Canada and the Netherlands and his outstretched arms represent the liberation of the Netherlands and the cooperation between the two countries.
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Sophie
I wasn’t aware of the bond between Canada and the Netherlands. Tulips would have been a perfect gift, the most Dutch there is – and so beautiful. I’ve been in Ottawa quite a few times, but never at the right time of year, it looks. May next time, then.
Muza-chan
Cool statue 🙂
budget jan
That is a lovely sentiment. I know that towns in Australia have sister cities around the world, but have not heard of the Country Friends idea. Cool.
Marisol
Hi Lisa, that’s an interesting history lesson. What a lovely symbol of gratitude.
eileen at FamiliesGo!
There is almost nothing that makes me happier in spring than a a field of brightly colored tulips. there is nothing like them. hope you get back again to see them at their peak.
Lisa Goodmurphy
It took many visits to Ottawa before I finally made it during the Tulip Festival and it was definitely worth it! I knew about the connection to the Netherlands and the tulips but had no idea that this statue existed. One of the princesses was actually born in Ottawa and a room at the hospital in Ottawa was declared to be part of the Netherlands so that she could be born a Dutch citizen.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Muza-chan!!
Lisa Goodmurphy
It is a lovely idea and I’m guessing that not many Canadians actually know of the connection.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Marisol – I’m glad that we happened upon the statue because I had no idea that it existed. There are also display boards in Commissioners Park which explain the history of the Tulip Festival and the relationship between Canada and the Netherlands.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Tulips are my favourite too! Not going to make it to the Tulip Festival this spring but hopefully next year.
Leigh
I have always been aware of the Dutch-Canadian bond because my mother went to school with a Dutch princess when they stayed in Ottawa during the war. But I knew nothing about the statue nor did I appreciate its size!
Marcia
I’ll have to check out the monument the next time I’m in Ottawa — I don’t remember it being around when I lived Ottawa in the 70s.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Rather big, isn’t it?!? I had Emma stand in front of the statue to show just how tall it is. I didn’t know anything about it beforehand either – we were just walking in the park and there it was. 🙂
Lisa Goodmurphy
It’s a fairly new monument, Marcia. It was unveiled by Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands in May 2002.
Cathy Sweeney
I love the statue and what is symbolizes. It’s very moving to think about the Netherlands gratitude for liberation and friendship between the two countries.
Monique
Great post. I love the symbolism.
Lisa Goodmurphy
It is very moving – especially to think that the gratitude continues to be felt so many years after the war ended.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Monique – I want to visit Apeldoorn now to see the twin statue!
Jessica
What a cool statue with a great story!
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
Yes, you must now go to the Netherlands to see the twin statue. Of course, it will look smaller because Emma will be taller by then.
Johanna
Lovely story, and that’s an mazing statue. I also didn’t realise there was a connection.
Life Images by Jill
wow that is a tall statue – I love the way artists can depict symbolism through their craft.
Have a wonderful week, happy travels, and thank you for stopping by my blog the other day.
ps – we enjoy travelling wand exploring ith our kids & grandkids too.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Jessica!!
Lisa Goodmurphy
It’s a pretty good reason to plan a trip to the Netherlands, I think! 😉
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Johanna – I’m glad we happened upon it even though we didn’t know that it was there.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Jill!!
Prasad Np
Interesting monument..and it must be very tall going by the fact that the little girl is only reaching till knees.
Cheryl @ Kids On A Plane
I knew about the tulips and the tie to Netherlands but didn’t know about this statue. Thanks for teaching me about the man with the two hats!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thank you!!
Lisa Goodmurphy
If we hadn’t taken a walk in the park then I would never have known about this statue either – such an interesting story!
Kiera @easytravelmom
I’ve never been to Ottawa (but have met people from there and really must get there) and I would love to visit during tulip season. I didn’t know of the link either between Canada and the Netherlands but loved seeing the tulips there too. I really like that statue!
Lisa Wood
That is one Very Tall Statue. I like how the two hats represent Canada and the Netherlands and his outstretched arms represent the liberation of the Netherlands. Very interesting information for a monument. How tall is it? It looks so tall behind Emma 🙂
Lisa Goodmurphy
You would love Ottawa, Kiera – it’s a beautiful city and even more so during tulip season!
Lisa Goodmurphy
It is very tall! The statue is 4.6 metres tall which is about 15 feet tall.