If you’ve ever heard the sweet sound of musical bells filling the air in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, you certainly aren’t alone. But did you ever wonder where the beautiful melodies were coming from, or why they play at the top of each hour? If so, read on!
The sweet music we hear each day in the Harbour comes from the Netherlands Centennial Carillon, located just in front of the Royal B.C. Museum. It’s a towering structure, and one that boasts a 27-metre spiral staircase, 62 bells, and some serious pipes. And while its music is pretty and whimsical, did you know each performance is also a royal and heartfelt “Thank-you” to Canada from the Dutch government?
It's origins began in 1940 when, during World War Two, Nazis forces invaded and occupied the Netherlands, forcing Crown Princess Juliana (later Queen Juliana) to flee her beloved homeland. After spending a month in England, she moved to Canada for safe refuge, where she’d spend the rest of the war living in Ottawa with her two young daughters.
Whilst there, in 1943, Juliana gave birth to her third child, Princess Margriet, at Ottawa’s Civic Hospital - a location that was clearly not the Netherlands. However, in order to preserve the new princesses royal lineage, the Canadian government did something quite remarkable: it temporarily declared the hospital room extraterritorial, meaning it wasn’t legally part of Canada for that moment. Canada literally handed over a piece of itself for a royal birth, even erecting the Dutch flag for the duration of the royal family’s stay.
When the war ended in 1945, Juliana and her family returned to the Netherlands; but she never forgot the hospitality, kindness, and sacrifices the Canadian people made on her family, and country’s, behalf. You see, not only had Canada provided her family safety during the war, but also on a larger scale, our armed forces helped liberate the Netherlands from the Nazi regime.
In a grand gesture of thanks and gratitude, in 1967 (Canada’s centennial) the Dutch community of British Columbia, with the support of Queen Juliana, gifted Canada the Netherlands Centennial Carillon, placing it front and centre in Victoria’s beautiful Inner Harbour. But why did she choose Victoria?
As the capital of British Columbia and a postcard-perfect city of gardens, she felt it was an ideal home for this towering musical monument—and a visible, audible reminder of her gratitude for Canada’s help during Europe’s darkest times.
So what exactly is a carillon? It’s a musical instrument that is made up of at least 23 cast bronze bells that plays melodies, either with the help of a performer (known as a carillonneur), or by automation, which is usually the case with the one we have.
The carillon in Victoria is one of the largest in the world, boasting 62 bells that chime on the hour each day from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Lucky passers-by will hear a short melody, followed by several bell strikes that indicate the hour at hand (e.g. six bongs means 6 o’clock) followed by a short burst of music.
Live performances are rare, held only on special occasions like Canada Day (July 1st), Remembrance Day (November 11th), and of course on Koningsdag - or Dutch King’s Day (April 27th). When they do happen, they are often memorable, with audiences being treated to a range of pieces ranging from classical to surprisingly modern— during one performance, Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody has even made an appearance (quite fitting, come to think of it)!
Alongside Ottawa’s annual Tulip Festival—another perpetual royal thank-you from Queen Juliana—the Netherlands Centennial Carillon stands as a powerful symbol of international friendship, resilience, and the shared history between our two countries.
It’s a powerful reminder that when two countries respect each other, support each other, and work together, the results can be beautiful and lasting; not just in politics, not just in diplomacy—but in music, memories, and lasting friendship; a friendship which in this case, results in the beautiful sound of chiming bells echoing across our harbour each day.
To learn more about the carillon, as well as other interesting parts of Victoria's history, why not join one of HIDDEN VICTORIA'S Iconic and Obscure walking tours? Our passionate guides will give you lots of great stories and history of this beautiful city we call home. For more information, CLICK HERE.