
80th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War in Europe. The final phase of the Second World War in Europe brought the First Canadian Army to the Netherlands (1944-45), where the Canadians fought from town to town, and sometimes, house to house, bringing freedom and relief to Dutch civilians who had endured five years of hardship and occupation. The hero’s welcome so poignantly illustrated on this 99.99% pure silver coin captures the joyous liberation celebrations that took place in the spring of 1945. Amid the excitement of the “Sweetest Spring, ” a young girl’s gift of a tulip symbolizes a lasting legacy of peace, gratitude and friendship. A fine silver symbol of the ties that bind Canada and the Netherlands. May 5 is Dutch Heritage Day in Canada and Liberation Day in the Netherlands. To this day, the Dutch people continue to take part in events and acts of remembrance for the more than 7,600 Canadians who died while fighting to bring freedom to the Netherlands; and in Canada, the enduring connection between our two nations is evidenced by the thousands of tulips that bloom each spring in Ottawa-a gift from the Dutch Royal Family and the people of the Netherlands. Designed by Canadian artist Neil Hamelin, the coin features a view of the Liberation of the Netherlands in the spring of 1945. A procession of Canadian soldiers in wartime manufactured Canadian Military Pattern (CMP) vehicles can be seen rolling into a Dutch town, where they are given a hero’s welcome. Standing in a crowd of cheering Dutch civilians, a young girl offers a tulip to a soldier of the Canadian Army kneeling before her. The obverse features the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III by Canadian artist Steven Rosati. Packaging: The coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell with a black beauty box. THIS ITEM IS GST / HST EXEMPT. Citadel Coins Halifax, Nova Scotia Official Royal Canadian Mint Distributor.