W5 Marks the 75th Anniversary of Canadian Troops Liberating the Netherlands, This Saturday

The end of WWII forged a powerful bond between the Dutch and Canadians through the liberation of the Netherlands by Canadian troops. This weekend, W5, Canada’s most-watched documentary series, marks the 75^th anniversary of the German surrender and liberation of the Netherlands with “The Liberators”, a special episode airing this Saturday, May 2 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, the CTV and CTV News apps, and CTVNews.ca.

Originally broadcast in November 2019 and refreshed with new content to mark the milestone anniversary, “The Liberators” recounts the final days of the war, telling the story of the courageous Canadians who defeated the Nazis, cementing a kinship between Canada and the Netherlands that endures to this day.

Narrated by W5 investigative correspondent Avery Haines, the documentary hears from Canadian veterans of the brutal campaign and the joy of Dutch citizens as they were liberated. The story combines recollections of the soldiers, like Don White, now in his nineties, with archival footage of the campaign.

Originally, the May 5^th anniversary of the liberation was to be marked with celebrations attended by surviving Canadian veterans, but these events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. W5’s documentary offers Canadians a chance to recognize this historic event and pay tribute to the Canadian Forces.

During WWII, the Dutch royal family took refuge in Ottawa. In “The Liberators”, Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, who was born in Ottawa in 1943, meets White and thanks him and his fellow soldiers for their determination and sacrifice.

In addition to airing Saturdays at 7 p.m. ET on CTV, W5 also airs Saturdays at 10 p.m. on CTV2 and Sundays (see local listings). W5 is also available on demand at CTVNews.ca/W5, and on the CTV and CTV News apps.