Katherine Bickford

Located in front of the Royal BC Museum the Netherlands Centennial Carillon was gift from Dutch community of British Columbia in thanks for Canada’s role in the liberation of the Netherlands during World War II.

A carillon is a musical instrument typically housed in a bell tower of a church or other municipal building. The instrument contains dozens of cast bronze, cup shaped bells that are played in a melody or together to sound a chord.  Musicians play a carillon by striking a large keyboard-type instrument with their fists and pressing pedals with their feet.  The keys mechanically activate a series of levers and wires that are connected to clappers that hit the inside of the bells, unlike church bells which sound after being swung back and forth.

The carillon officially opened in May 1968 with 49 bells cast at the Royal Bell Foundry by Petit & Fritsen at Aarle-Rixtel, in the Netherlands. Another thirteen were added in 1971. With 62 bells, it is the largest carillon in Canada.  The largest bell weighs 1500 kilograms. The carillon is housed at the top of the 89 foot tall tower, and is accessed by a 75 step spiral staircase and a 10 step ladder.

and  now you know…