- Canadian-Dutch relations
Canadian-Dutch relations describes the foreign relations between
Canada and theNetherlands .History
Dutch relations with what later become Canada began with the founding of the first Dutch colonies in North America (
New Netherland ) and their conflict with the neighbouring French colonies,New France . Notably the Dutch supported theIroquois in their wars against New France and went so far as to occupy Acadia (now theMaritime Provinces ) in 1674.Relations between Canada and the Netherlands were not very prominent after the annexation of New Netherland by Britain. Even after Canadian independence, relations were subduded. Close relations only began during the tense European political climate in the shadow of the growing threat of
Nazi Germany .Following German Occupation of the Netherlands, the Dutch royal family took
refuge in Canada. Princess Margriet was born inexile while her family lived inOttawa . Thematernity ward ofOttawa Civic Hospital in which Princess Margriet was born was temporarily declared to be officially part of the Netherlands so that the princess would be born on Dutch soil.During 1945 the
First Canadian Army was responsible for liberating the Netherlands, which they did through battles such as theBattle of the Scheldt and theLiberation of Arnhem . The Dutch were suffering the effects of a famine, and saw the Canadians not only as liberators but as saviours.In appreciation, the Dutch people sent tens of thousands of
tulips (the Dutch national flower) to Ottawa, the following year the royal family contributed several thousand as well. The donations became an annual tradition, theCanadian Tulip Festival .Co-operation
Canada and the Netherlands have worked closely together are many foreign issues. They are both members of the
United Nations (and its Specialized Agencies) theWorld Trade Organization ,Interpol , they are both founding members of theNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), theEuro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) theOrganization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and theStability 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).Diplomatic missions
Canada has an embassy in
The Hague and the Netherlands has one inOttawa , and threeConsulates-General inToronto ,Montreal andVancouver .Migration
According to the
Canada 2006 Census , there are 1,035,965Canadians of Dutch descent , including those of full or partial ancestry. Over 400,000 people of Dutch origin are permanent residents of Canada and in 1996 (the last census figures available) 124,545 residents of Canada were listed as being born in the Netherlands: 0.4 percent of the Canadian population.Trade
In 2006, the Netherlands were the the 8th ranked destination for Canadian exports (0.7%). [ [http://www.2ontario.com/welcome/coca_401.asp Canada Is A Trading Nation - Canada's Major Trading Partners ] ]
References
External links
* [http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canada-europa/netherlands/can_nether-en.asp#N_1_ CANADAEuropa/The Netherlands]
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