Dutch war brides in Canada.

A part of the post-Second World War history not to be forgotten.

Post WWII period belongs to the most remarkable periods of the history of Canadian immigration. Dutch women were the second largest group amongst the 47,000 war brides coming to Canada during and after the war. Books of Olga Rains, one of the Dutch war brides, reveal many touching personal histories of the Dutch brides. An excellent comprehensive source of information can be found on the websites of e.g. Pier 21 at www.pier21.ca/War_Brides, of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs at www.vac-acc.gc.ca – war brides section, and of the Canadian War Museum at www.canadianwarbrides.com The Canadian War Museum plans to feature an exhibition on war brides in the spring of 2007. Yet, the history of the Dutch war brides seems to be underrepresented.

In the framework of a public diplomacy initiative of the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Ottawa, a new project, aimed at filling this historical information gap, is being organized.

1,886 Dutch brides and their 428 children immigrated in the post war period to Canada.

Stories about the journey over the ocean, sea sickness and in particular about the free white bread and bananas on board, cherished food after the hunger-winter in Holland, are heartbreaking. Often, the hardest part came after the arrival.

The major goal of the project will be to document and commemorate the history and lives of the Dutch war brides in a book to be published in cooperation with Veterans Affairs, Canadian War Museum (Ottawa) and Pier 21(Halifax). Along with creative writing, the book, sources and literary research as well as fundraising in order to realize its publication, will be some of the essential parts of this initiative. As there are not many eye witnesses left to tell their story, publication of this type of book will be an important legacy to the next generation.