All over the Netherlands during the Second World War, the Germans took the large (and small) church bells to melt down and make into bullets. When word got around to Groningen, the locals would have none of it. They took the bells down, buried them and seeded crops on top of them so the Germans couldn't find them. One man made a map of where the bells were buried and hid the map in a church basement so they could get them after the war. Canadian troops were billeted all over the area immediately following the end of the war. It took a lot of time and effort to dig up the bells, clean them, hoist them up into the tower and mount them.
The "Chime Master" was expected to play the Dutch National Anthem the 1st time the bells were to ring out after the many years of silence, but he had another plan. He approached the officers of the Canadian Soldiers who had liberated Groningen and asked them, "what is the song of the Canadians". the officers responded "God save the King" "Ya, Ya.. that is the official song of the British Empire... I would like to know the song of Canada!" They then replied, "O Canada". No one had the sheet music to O Canada, but a Chaplin in the Canadian Armed Forces that was stationed there had a good clear voice and he was summoned and sang "O Canada" a few times for the Chime Master who wrote down the notes, climbed into the tower and for the 1st song to be played in years, he played "O Canada" as a tribute to the soldiers who had liberated Groningen, Netherlands.
The picture below is the Martintoren. It was completed in 1482. Unlike many buildings around it, both the Martinitoren and the church next to it, the Martinikerk (St. Maarten's Church) survived World War II relatively unscathed, though some shrapnel damage is visible.
The ever-so-slightly leaning sandstone and red brick Martinitoren is the bell tower for the Martinikerk. It contains a carillon with 52 bells, some of which are enormous bells that are 400 years old.
Now look out at the city. Nearby, below you, is the Grote Markt, the central square of Groningen. One row of lovely centuries-old buildings lines one side, now used as pubs and restaurants. The stadshuis (city hall) stands in the middle with the Golden Age goudkantoor behind it. The rest of the buildings around the Grote Market are newer, replacing buildings destroyed in the Battle of Groningen between the Canadians and the Germans in April 1945.
When Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers opened their office in Moerdijk, a few of our Canadian employees went to the Netherlands to train the new employees and open the office. They were there over Liberation Day. There was a big parade, so they went to see the festivities. When one of the crowd asked where they were from, all of a sudden, people all around started shaking their hands and thanking them for what the Canadians did in World War II. They were all overwhelmed with emotion!
Every year the Canada receives 20,000 tulip bulbs from the Netherlands as a thank you for the liberation in 1945. They are planted in Ottawa. Canada purchases many more and Ottawa hosts the Canadian Tulip Festival every May. 650,000 people are expected in a non-COVID year.
Every year when our tulips come up, it reminds me of this wonderful story.
