Unveiled on 11 May 2002, this monument pays tribute to the crucial role played by Canadian soldiers in the liberation of the Netherlands during the Second World War.
The Ottawa Man with Two Hats monument is a replica of the statue found in the Dutch city of Apeldoorn named De man met de twee hoeden. The twin statues exemplify the strong ties between the Netherlands and Canada. The friendship that bonds the two countries grew during the Second World War, when Canadian soldiers played an important role in the Liberation of the Netherlands.
The bronze monument, a gift to Canada from the Netherlands, was created by Dutch artist Henk Visch. The 4.6 meter structure was unveiled by Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands in Ottawa in May 2002. The Princess had also dedicated the original Apeldoorn statue two years earlier in May 2000, during the 55th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands, in front of a large group of Canadian Veterans.
