Apeldoorn The Netherlands

The City of Burlington signed an official twinning agreement on May 6, 2005 with the City of Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.  Apeldoorn is one of the Netherlands' most progressive cities in the areas of responsible development and the environment. This, coupled with the historic strong connections with our veterans, as well as its size, makes Apeldoorn an ideal twinning partner with the City of Burlington.  Over the years, our twinning relationship has led to many opportunities for cultural exchange and sharing of ideas among youth - our leaders of tomorrow - citizens and elected officials.

For additional information, please view the history of our twinning relationship with Apeldoorn.

Past Events

Burlington-Apeldoorn Park Exchange - June 4,2015

Burlington Garden in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands was officially opened on June 4, 2015 in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet. To cement the close relationship enjoyed by Burlington and Apeldoorn, Burlington Garden has been created in Zonnehoeve - Apeldoorn's new-build neighbourhood. The Garden is a flower, fruit and vegetable garden. The park has some very special benches, decorated with the image of the Maple Leaf. These benches are similar to the ones in Apeldoorn Park in Burlington, the key difference being the Canadian benches are decorated with tulips.  Burlington Garden will be maintained by the people living in the area and residents of Heeren Loo. Heeren Loo supports people with mental health challenges. Apeldoorn Park is located at 1385 Elgin St. in Burlington and features a large planter containing about 700 Apeldoorn tulip bulbs and playground equipment painted in the colour orange associated with the Dutch Royal Family. The parks were designed with input from staff at the cities of Burlington and Apeldoorn.

About Apeldoorn

Here are a few interesting facts about Apeldoorn:

• The population of Apeldoorn is 157,000 - very similar to Burlington and growing at a rate of 10 per cent per year.
• Apeldoorn, the Netherlands' 10th largest city, is located in the province of Gelderland in the centre of the Netherlands.
• Apeldoorn is the home of the official summer residence of the Royal Family - Paleis Het Loo.
• The Royal Canadian Regiment took part in the liberation of Apeldoorn in April 1945.
• View a map of Apeldoorn.

Canada-Netherlands Connections

WWII 1939-1945

The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. Following the declaration of war in September 1939, the RCR moved to the United Kingdom for intensive training as a component of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division.  The regiment was transferred to northwest Europe in February 1945 and took part in the liberation of the Dutch city of Apeldoorn.  On the morning of April 17, 1945, the Canadian Army was welcomed by the jubilant, cheering and grateful citizends of Apeldoorn as it crossed the canal into the city.

Princess Margriet

Royal history was made in Ottawa on Jan. 19, 1943, when Dutch Princess Juliana gives birth to her daughter Margriet Francisca at the city's Civic Hospital. The first royal baby to ever be born in North America, the historic birth helped forge a bond between Canada and the Netherlands that endures to this day.

Crown Princess Juliana and her two small daughters arrived in Canada in June 1940, a month after they fled the Netherlands in the wake of the German army invasion. The heir to the Dutch throne, Juliana lived in exile in Ottawa for four years and became a fixture in the capital city's social circles. After learning of Juliana's pregnancy, the Canadian government proclaimed the hospital's maternity suite "extraterritorial" so that the royal baby would have full Dutch citizenship.

excerpt from CBC digital archives

Princess Margriet currently resides in Apeldoorn.