Keukenhof III

Keukenhof Gardens outside of Amsterdam is one of the world’s largest flower bulb producing locations in the world.

After the Allied Landings in Normandy in June 1944, the western Allies rapidly advanced in the direction of the Dutch border. Tuesday the 5th of September is known as ""Mad Tuesday"" — the Dutch began celebrating, believing they were close to liberation.

Later in September, the Allies launched Operation Market Garden in an attempt to advance from the Dutch-Belgian border across the rivers Meuse, Waal and Rhine into the north of the Netherlands and Germany. However, the Allied forces did not reach this objective because they could not capture the Rhine bridge at the Battle of Arnhem.

Allied Aircraft including a large contingent of Canadian flyers provided much needed food drops behind German lines to assist the people of the Netherlands.

The Government of the Netherlands sent over 100,000 tulip bulbs to Canada in 1945 as a symbol of their appreciation for the role that Canadians played in their liberation and still sends over 10,000 bulbs to Canada each year.

When Keukenhof Gardens opened in 1947 the view from above of it’s bold beauty, bright colours, and distinct lines stood in stark contrast to the harsh reality of a bombed out Europe.

This painting is of Kukenhof Gardens when it opened to the public in 1950. With promises of a post war golden age, over 100,000 people attended the gardens in 1950. Opening ceremonies included fly overs by members of the allied air forces.