Canadian-Dutch relations

Canadian-Dutch relations describes the foreign relations between Canada and the Netherlands.

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 the Iroquois in their wars against New France and went so far as to occupy Acadia (now the Maritime 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 in exile while her family lived in Ottawa. The maternity ward of Ottawa 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 the Battle of the Scheldt and the Liberation 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, the Canadian 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) the World Trade Organization, Interpol, they are both founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the Stability 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 in Ottawa, and three Consulates-General in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

Migration

According to the Canada 2006 Census, there are 1,035,965 Canadians 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]