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A Canadian beech tree as a liberation memorial

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There is a living war memorial in Grolloo in the form of a Canadian Red Beech. It is known as the Vredesboom (Tree of Peace), and sometimes also as the Vrijheidsboom (Tree of Liberty).

The Vredesboom in Grolloo has been on the National Comittee of 4 and 5 May's national list of war memorials since the summer of 2022. The tree was planted in celebration of freedom. This was done on 13 May 1945 by schoolchildren and Canadians. The names of the people involved are supposed to be in a bottle buried under the tree.

The tree is therefore also the place where Grolloo residents celebrate the liberation, which began on 12 April 1945 with the arrival of the Canadian army.

An additional boulder with a plaque was placed at the tree in 2000 to commemorate the victims of war every year on 4 May. This specifically involves primary school children. The school has adopted the monument to ensure that it is also maintained.