Netherlands Carillon
The Netherlands Carillon was a gift to the United States from the Netherlands in appreciation for liberating the country from the Germans during World War II. It was dedicated on May 5, 1960.
The carillon is located north of Arlington Cemetery near the U. S. Marine Corp Memorial. There is no parking at the carillon, but limited parking is available along the road that circles the Marine Corps Memorial. It is a short walk between the two. An alternative is to take the metro to either the Arlington Cemetery or Rosslyn Metro station. I made the half mile walk from the cemetery, which takes about 15 minutes. Ask any of the guards or cemetery personnel for directions. Both the Netherlands Carillon and the Marine Corps Memorial are managed by the National Park Service as sub units of the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
The Netherlands Carillon originally had 49 bells. A 50th bell was presented to President Bill Clinton in 1995, the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands. At this time the carillon was restored, and today it plays both daily automated concerts at 12 PM and 6 PM and live concerts every Saturday in June, July, and August from 6 PM to 8 PM. A holiday concert is held from 2 PM to 4 PM on Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Last updated on April 7, 2020
