The Liberation of the Netherlands was composed of a series of attacks by Allied forces that successfully drove the Nazis out of Netherlands. Germany had taken the Netherlands in 1940, causing people to live in poor living standards and suffering from hunger. The Allies began by accessing the Netherlands' Scheldt estuary, the gateway to the port of Antwerp. The Allies successfully defeated the Nazis and brought freedom back to the Dutch. Canada also helped with the issue of starvation in the Netherlands by dropping food from the air crafts. In honour of Canada's contribution, the Netherlands donate 10,000 tulips to Canada annually as appreciation for the assistance during World War II. The contribution of Canada in Liberating the Netherlands was not only recognized but praised by the Dutch, displaying a sense of justice and independence in the world.