Why the Dutch still honour Canadians, 80 years after their liberation from Germany

Canadian veteran Jim Parks is getting ready to visit the Netherlands again, 80 years after playing a role in liberating the country from German occupation. 

And he can expect a warm welcome. 

"He's still our hero," said Marco Kalmijn, who is part of the Canadian Liberators Foundation, which helps Canadian veterans visit the Netherlands. "Even after 80 years, he's still our hero here in the Netherlands, so we're so grateful he can come again."

Parks, now 100 years old, is one of the many Canadians who fought the Germans in Europe during the Second World War. But in the Netherlands, there's a special appreciation for the Maple Leaf. 

Around 7,600 Canadians died prying the Netherlands from Hitler's grip. Since then, the Dutch have found many ways to honour the Canadians who fought in their country. 

There are memorials and cemeteries dedicated to Canadian soldiers who died while fighting. The Dutch also send 20,000 tulips to Ottawa every year. There are even Dutch streets named after Canadian war heroes. 

And even 80 years after the war, people from across the Netherlands find new ways to honour the sacrifice of Parks and others.

"The precious thing of freedom the Canadian soldiers gave to us, we have to remember that every year of every day," said Kalmijn.

'Excited to go back'

On April 15, 1945, just a few weeks before the Germans officially surrendered the country, the regiment of the Royal Canadian Dragoons was able to take the city of Leeuwarden in the Dutch province of Friesland back from Axis forces. 

Parks, who joined the military when he was just 15, was tasked with rooting out remaining German soldiers from the city.

Parks remembers searching the city during that time and being asked to toss a grenade into a farmhouse where they thought enemy soldiers might be hiding. 

"I didn't like the idea of doing that," said Parks, who remembers the moment vividly. He says he could hear someone talking on the other side of the door. 

"I opened up the door and here's a whole Dutch family there, about six people — a mother, dad and four kids … I often think about that, how lucky I was not to do that."

The family was grateful to see him, he says.

"They were so happy because here we are, the liberators."

Since then, Parks has been back to the Netherlands around 10 times. When he goes, he often visits Friesland, and each time he's been there, he says he's been treated like a hero. 

In a few weeks, he will go back again. 

"I'm very excited to go back because you're always so welcome there," he said.

Honouring the Maple Leaf

On April 25, shortly after the 80th anniversary of Leeuwarden's liberation, the city's soccer team, SC Camburr, plans to wear a special Canadian version of their jersey, marked with maple leaves and the crest of the Royal Canadian Dragoons.

But it's not just the jersey that will honour the Canadian military efforts.

"We will play the anthem of the Royal Canadian Dragoons. Our fan magazines and everything will be in Canadian style," said Ruben Sijtsma, who speaks for the club.

"Every little thing, every little touch we can do in that game, will be in remembrance and in honour of, especially, the Dragoons and the Canadian people in general."

The idea was first born in September, when fans were discussing the season ahead. 

Sijtsma remembers celebrating Remembrance Day, or Dodenherdenking, as a child, and being confused as to why there were Canadian flags everywhere. But he quickly learned about the impact Canadians had on his country. 

"The younger people know the story, but not as much as they probably should," said Sijtsma.

"So we thought with a group of fans, 'Hey, what can we do to tell the story and to also honour these guys,' but also tell the important message like, 'Hey, freedom, it is not for granted and we should always fight for it.'"

He says the response from the community has been overwhelming, and the Canadian version of the jersey sold out on their website in just a few hours. They're looking at the possibility of having more made.

'We thank our freedom to him'

Parks voiced a monologue for the team about the liberation of Leeuwarden, and his time serving in the war.

"We are really honoured to be able to tell his story, use his voice in the video because, yeah, if you see it … it's quite emotional," said Sijtsma.

Kalmijn says that in Friesland, Parks is well known. When he arrives in the Netherlands in late April, Kalmijn says there's a full itinerary of events for the Canadian veteran, including seeing the Afsluitdijk, a Dutch war museum, and a memorial for Canadian soldiers.

He says that as the years go on, the Dutch will continue to celebrate Parks and the other Canadian heroes who fought for Dutch liberation.

"He is one of the last surviving liberators of the Netherlands," said Kalmijn. 

"He is honoured here in the Netherlands in a very nice and good way because we thank our freedom to him. And he represents also his comrades who have fallen into the war and are not alive anymore."