Vancouver Island Netherlands Association

06/10/2026

For Dutch citizens in and around Victoria who need to renew or apply for a Dutch passport or ID card, the Consulate-General of the Netherlands will be offering a Pop-up Consular Service in Victoria on 23 and 24 June.

Appointments are available and can be booked via the Netherlands Worldwide website:

https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/passport-id-card/abroad/apply-canada

We look forward to assisting you in Victoria.

Do you live in Canada and do you want to renew or apply for a Dutch passport or ID card? Check what you need and find out how to apply.

05/17/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CnyLZPkNo/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Dutch Recipe of the Day 🇳🇱

Traditional Dutch Apple Pie (Appeltaart) 🍏🥧

Dutch apple pie is famous for its thick buttery crust, sweet apples, cinnamon, and cozy homemade flavor.

In the Netherlands, many families have their own recipe — and almost every café serves a slice with whipped cream. ☕🥧

Warm, comforting, and perfect with coffee on a rainy day.

Would you try a real Dutch apple pie? 🇳🇱

⸻

Ingredients

For the crust:

* 2 1/2 cups flour
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 1 cup cold butter
* 1 egg
* Pinch of salt

For the filling:

* 6 apples, peeled and sliced
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 2 tsp cinnamon
* Handful of raisins (optional)
* 2 tbsp breadcrumbs

⸻

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix flour, sugar, butter, egg, and salt into a dough.
3. Press most of the dough into a pie pan.
4. Sprinkle breadcrumbs on the bottom.
5. Mix apples with sugar and cinnamon.
6. Fill the pie crust with the apple mixture.
7. Make strips from the remaining dough and place them over the top.
8. Bake for about 60 minutes until golden brown.

05/11/2026

Groentesoep met balletjes is a light and fragrant Duch soup generously filled with vegetables, vermicelli and meatballs.

05/10/2026

05/10/2026

ATTENTION PARENTS WITH DUTCH ROOTS!
Attentie Nederlandse ouders! 🇳🇱❤️

We’re exploring the possibility of offering Dutch language lessons for kids right here in Victoria.

To move forward, we need to hear from families who would love to see Dutch language and culture taught locally. Please follow the link below.

👉 Laat alsjeblieft je interesse zien via deze korte enquête:

https://forms.gle/aceochqaP3JrYtoa6

Every response strengthens the case for Dutch education on the Island.

05/10/2026

Dutch roots on Vancouver Island? This is BIG! 🇳🇱✨

VINA and the accredited Dutch school De Esdoorn (NOB‑recognized) are exploring the possibility of bringing Dutch language and cultural education right here to Victoria — and potentially beyond.

But it can only happen if our community shows interest!
👉 We need your voice.
👉 Your response directly shapes whether Dutch education can take root on the Island.

Families with Dutch heritage — please take a few minutes to complete our survey.

Teachers that may be interested in providing Dutch lessons can also indicate interest in providing paid lessons in section 6.3

https://forms.gle/aceochqaP3JrYtoa6

📅 Survey open until June 30, 2026

💬 Your participation truly matters.

🔵 Help Shape Dutch Education!

Deze korte bevraging peilt naar de interesse in Nederlands taal- en cultuuronderwijs in Victoria / Vancouver Island. This short survey explores the interest in Dutch language and cultural education in Victoria / Vancouver Island.

05/05/2026

Today (May 5) is Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag) in the Netherlands 🇳🇱 — celebrating the country’s freedom from N**i occupation in 1945. It’s a day to remember the sacrifices of World War II and celebrate peace and freedom.

Bevrijdingsdag (Liberation Day) is celebrated annually on May 5 in the Netherlands. It commemorates the end of the German occupation during World War II and the restoration of freedom. 🧡🧡🇳🇱

German Invasion (1940): N**i Germany invaded the Netherlands on May 10, 1940, without a formal declaration of war. The Dutch military resisted for five days. After the devastating (the Rotterdam Blitz) and threats to other cities like Utrecht, the Netherlands capitulated on May 15, 1940. Queen Wilhelmina and the government went into exile in London.

Occupation 1940–1945. The five-year occupation was harsh. It involved repression, persecution of Jews and other minorities leading to the deportation of most of the Dutch Jewish population, including Anne Frank) forced labor, food shortages - notably the "Hunger Winter" of 1944–45), and resistance activities. The Netherlands suffered greatly under N**i rule.

Liberation (1944–1945): Allied forces, primarily Canadian, British, American, Polish, and Dutch troops, began liberating parts of the country in 1944 (e.g., the south after Operation Market Garden). Fighting continued into 1945, with heavy casualties and destruction in the north.

May 5, 1945: This is the key date. German forces in the Netherlands surrendered to Canadian Lieutenant-General Charles Foulkes in Wageningen (at Hotel de Wereld, with the formal signing the next day). This effectively ended the occupation in the Netherlands, though the full German surrender in Europe came on May 8 (Victory in Europe Day).In 1990, May 5 became a national holiday celebrated every year to remember and appreciate freedom.🇳🇱🇳🇱

It is paired with Dodenherdenking or Remembrance Day on May 4, a solemn day of reflection with two minutes of silence at 8:00 PM to honor those who died in WWII and later conflicts. Bevrijdingsdag shifts to celebration the next day. 🧡🧡🇳🇱