Canada–Netherlands relations

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Canada–Netherlands relations
Map indicating locations of Canada and Netherlands

Canada
Netherlands

Canadian government describing the Netherlands as "one of Canada's most significant trade, investment and innovation partners."[1] In part, the annual Canadian Tulip Festival still commemorates this relationship, with a tradition of tulips sent to Canada from the Netherlands as gratitude for the Canadian actions during World War II.[2][3][4]

In 2019, Dutch Heritage Day was proclaimed as being on May 5 each year in Canada; coinciding with Liberation Day in the Netherlands.[5]

History

World War II to present

See also:
Military history of Canada during World War II § The Low Countries

Following the

maternity ward of Ottawa Civic Hospital in which Princess Margriet was born was temporarily declared to be extraterritorial by the Canadian government, thereby allowing her citizenship to be solely determined by her mother's Dutch citizenship. To commemorate the birth, the Canadian Parliament flew the Dutch flag over Peace Tower. This is the only time a foreign flag has flown over the Canadian Parliament Building.[6]

tulips after Operations Manna and Chowhound
over the then-occupied Netherlands

During 1945, the

Hongerwinter ('Hungerwinter'). It was cut off from food that was available in the rest of the Netherlands. German forces in the Netherlands would finally surrender in Wageningen, on 5 May 1945, but not before some 18,000 Dutch civilians died as a result of starvation and malnutrition (desperate coordinated air drops of food had already been staged in part by the Royal Canadian Air Force over German-occupied Dutch territory in Operation Manna
. Civilians wrote "Thank You Canadians!" on their rooftops in response). Immediately following the surrender, Canadian units were able to move into the Randstad and rapidly distribute desperately needed food supplies, causing many to see the Canadians not only as liberators but as saviours.

Canadian troops pass a windmill in Rijssen-Holten, April 1945.

In appreciation, the Dutch people sent tens of thousands of

tulips (the Dutch national flower) to Ottawa. In the following year, the royal family contributed thousands as well, and a further ten thousand yearly since. The donations became an annual tradition, culminating in the Canadian Tulip Festival. What is now known as the Canadian Tulip Festival at Ottawa's Commissioners Park was originally a gift of 100,000 tulips given by Margriet's mother Crown Princess Juliana, as she then was known, "to mark Canada's contribution to the liberation of the Netherlands and as thanks to Ottawa for sheltering her family during the war."[7]

State visits

Princess Margriet returns to Ottawa to attend the Canadian Tulip Festival in May 2002.

In May 1967,

Queen Juliana of the Netherlands visited Canada.[8]
From 9–17 May 1988,
Queen Máxima
paid a widely publicized state visit to Canada from 27 to 29 May 2015, receiving an extremely warm welcome, particularly in Ontario.

International cooperation

Canada and the Netherlands have worked very closely together on many foreign issues. They are both members of the United Nations (and its Specialized Agencies), the

Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe
. Canada and the Netherlands also work together on such issues as the prohibition and elimination of anti-personnel mines, the control of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, eradicating the worst forms of child labour, the provision of rapid reaction peacekeeping forces to the United Nations (SHIRBRIG) and regional security issues such as Bosnia (SFOR) and Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE).

Recent military cooperation

The

War in Afghanistan until the withdrawal of the Netherlands in 2010.[10]

Afghanistan

Canadian Army increased its presence with main battle tanks, some ten Leopard C2 and twenty Leopard 2A6M CAN, approximately one hundred LAV III armoured vehicles and used six 155 mm M777 howitzers
in Afghanistan.

insurgents
.

As part of Operation Enduring Freedom, the Netherlands also deployed aircraft as part of the European Participating Air Force (EPAF) in support of ground operations in Afghanistan as well as Dutch naval frigates to police the waters of the Middle East/Indian Ocean. The Netherlands deployed further troops and helicopters to Afghanistan in 2006 as part of a new ISAF security operation in the south of the country.

Dutch Armed Forces troops from Afghanistan, mainly in the province of Uruzgan, in July 2010. "I do not have assurances that other countries will be ready to replace Netherlands troops, but I am certain that Dutch troops will leave in 2010", Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said. "I indicated that in writing ... to the NATO secretary general, who has confirmed it."[13] Last minute negotiations in February 2010 after a further NATO request did not change this stance,[14] and there was a handover of command to the United States and Australia on 1 August 2010, formally ending the Dutch military mission, though a redeployment task force would remain for the rest of the year to complete the return of vehicles and other equipment to the Netherlands.[15]

Military sales

In 2007, the Netherlands sold 100 Leopard tanks to Canada. This include 20 Leopard 2-A6s and 80 Leopard 2-A4s. The agreement was announced during Dutch Defence Minister Eimert van Middelkoop's visit to Canada. As part of the agreement, the Dutch army intended to provide training for Canadian instructors.[16] The Dutch Army also uses the

C7 Rifle
as their service rifle.

Military treaties

Canada and the Netherlands have signed two separate treaties to govern and allow for the deployment of soldiers for training and mutual defense, in each other's territory. As NATO allies, under

Curacao, and Sint Maarten
.

Migration

Main article:
Canadians of Dutch descent
The Man With Two Hats celebrates Canada's assistance to the people of Netherlands and the joy of liberation.

According to the

Dutch Language is the 7th most spoken language in Canada.[17] It is also the third most spoken language in Prince Edward Island.[18]

Of all immigrant groups in Canada, those who are Dutch-speaking have shown a preference for farming that exceeds all other major groups. The capital and expertise they bring have made a substantial contribution to agriculture in Canada. Most Dutch immigrants settle in Ontario. Ontario has the lion's share of all Dutch immigrant farmers in Canada, with 58%. Alberta and British Columbia have similar proportions: 18% and 14% respectively. The Dutch represent a significant proportion of immigrants in the Atlantic provinces.[19]

The Dutch are world leaders in greenhouse technologies and many have brought their expertise to Canada. Thirty percent of all immigrant-run green-house operations have Dutch immigrants at the helm in Canada. Just under one-quarter of all immigrant nursery operators are Dutch.[19]

According to the Canadian Embassy in The Hague, between 4500 and 5000 Canadians live in the Netherlands.[20]

In London, Ontario the Dutch Canadian Society runs the Dutch Canadian Club one of the most popular clubs in that city.[21]

The Known Traveler Digital Identity

Keeping in line with the high level of cooperation between both nations, The Known Traveler Digital Identity is a joint venture between the governments of Canada and the Netherlands, and will be tested first on travelers going between those countries. The plan is to have it ready for a wider global rollout by 2020. The program will allow people to cross borders faster if they create a digital profile filled with their personal information on their mobile devices.[22]

Trade

Further information: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

In 2006, the Netherlands were the 8th ranked destination for Canadian exports (0.7%).[23] Canada and the Netherlands enjoy a mature relationship based on political, investment, trade, and historical ties.[24] To foster business and commercial relations between the Netherlands and Canada, the Dutch business community set up the Netherlands-Canadian Chamber of Commerce.[25]

In 2017,

UK and Italy, the Netherlands saw the most growth in trade relations with Canada. By 2018, the value of Dutch exports to Canada reached €4.4 billion, the value of Dutch imports from Canada reached €3.1 billion.[26][27]

Visa exemptions

Both countries exempt each other's citizens from obtaining a visa to enter. Visa-free travel is fully available to Canadian citizens in the Netherlands for a three-month period occurring in a half year.[28][29] Dutch citizens in Canada can travel visa-free for up to six months from date of entry.[30] The Netherlands remains a top European destination for Canadian tourists, especially those 45 years old or younger.

In June 2019, it was announced that by early 2020, there could be passport free travel between the two countries.[31] As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, these efforts were postponed indefinitely, as international travel declined dramatically.

Youth exchange

Because of the special relationship they share, Canada and the Netherlands have adopted liberal policies exclusive to one another and offer special working visas to youth from each country.[32][33] However, these special visa policies have conditions: Dutch youth must have a job offer before the visa is granted and Canadian youth must agree to limits of how long they can remain in the Netherlands. Citizens of the Netherlands and Canada between the ages of 18 and 25 are eligible and there are no restrictions for applicants status (non-students are equally eligible).[34][35]

Resident diplomatic missions

Embassy of Canada in The Hague

See also

References

  1. ^ "VE-Day: Why Dutch-Canadian connections have stayed so strong | CBC News".
  2. ^ Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) (2023-05-12). "Thank You Toronto Tulip Day 2023 - Event - Netherlandsandyou.nl". www.netherlandsandyou.nl. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
  3. ^ Heritage, Canadian (2017-09-27). "Tulips in Canada's capital". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
  4. ^ "About the Festival". Canadian Tulip Festival. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
  5. ^ "Chatham MP succeeds in establishing Dutch Heritage Day in Canada".
  6. ^ "The Parliament Buildings and Grounds". House of Commons Procedure and Practice. Parliament of Canada. 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  7. ^ Walsh, Marieke (9 May 2020). "Park pictures are back as Ottawa officials reverse yet another COVID-19 rule". The Globe and Mail Inc.
  8. ^ "The Calgary Herald - Google News Archive Search". google.com.
  9. ^ Staatsbezoeken van Hare Majesteit de Koningin (in Dutch) Retrieved 19 October 2012
  10. ^ "Liberators of the Netherlands in 1945, today Canada's Armed Forces are eclipsed by Dutch military | CBC News".
  11. ^ "405 Sqn Deploys to South West Asia ... | Articles | News & Events – News Room | 14 Wing Greenwood | Air Force | DND/CF". Airforce.forces.gc.ca. 5 June 2009. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  12. ^ "More Dutch troops for Afghanistan BBC Friday, 3 February 2006". BBC News. 3 February 2006. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  13. ^ "Netherlands confirms 2010 Afghanistan pullout". Australia: ABC. 19 December 2007. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  14. ^ Marquand, Robert (22 February 2010). "Dutch government collapse: Will other European troops now leave Afghanistan?". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  15. ^ "Dutch troops end Afghanistan deployment". BBC. 1 August 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  16. ^ "Netherlands Sells Leopard Tanks To Canada". Nisnews.nl. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  17. ^ Census Canada 1995 report
  18. ^ "See the PEI section". Canada: CBC. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  19. ^ a b "Dealing with small sample sizes, rotation group bias and discontinuities in a rotating panel design. 5. Redesign of the Dutch Labour Force Survey". 17 December 2015.
  20. ^ "Canada-Netherlands Relations". Canadainternational.gc.ca. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  21. ^ "www.dutchcanadiansociety.com". dutchcanadiansociety.com. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  22. ^ "Canada to launch new border security app that could go global | CBC News".
  23. ^ Canada Is A Trading Nation – Canada's Major Trading Partners Archived June 3, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ "Canada-Netherlands Relations". Canadainternational.gc.ca. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  25. ^ "Home". netherlandscanada.nl.
  26. ^ "NCCC - Trade information". Archived from the original on 2020-04-06. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  27. ^ "Netherlands : CETA in your town".
  28. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-26. Retrieved 2011-11-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  29. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2011-11-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  30. ^ "Countries/Territories requiring visas". Cic.gc.ca. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  31. ^ "Fly passport-free between Canada and the Netherlands? It's happening | Globalnews.ca".
  32. ^ "International Student Exchange – Holland". Youthedservices.ca. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  33. ^ "Global Backpackers". www.globalbackpackers.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2011.
  34. ^ "Canadian Immigration and Visas | Canada Working Holiday Program". Workpermit.com. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  35. ^ "Pagina niet gevonden" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  36. ^ Embassy of Canada in The Hague
  37. ^ Embassy of the Netherlands in Ottawa

External links

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