Introduction

During April 1945, the "GELDERSE VALLEI" (area around Barneveld, Voorthuizen etc.) and the city of Amsterdam were liberated from German occupation by primarily Canadian regiments. Many young soldiers, majority of whom had never set foot in the Netherlands before, died for our freedom. Nowadays, we still remember this every year on 4-5 May. This annual remembrance has been complemented by a new dimension. A number of Dutch musicians, enthusiastic about Scottish, British and Canadian military music, joined together in a new pipe band, in memory of the liberation and the many sacrifices made.

The pipeband was founded on September 8th, 1999 in Voorthuizen and it's official name is The Seaforth Highlanders of Holland, Memorial Pipes and Drums. The band has contacts with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Regimental Association and the official Regiment The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, based in Vancouver. A regiment that was in fact operational in the Netherlands in 1945 and also included a pipe band that gave performances during those important months of April and May 1945.

In charge of the band is our experienced pipe major FrankJan de Boone, supported by several instructors. Although the band is very young and our instructors are very busy teaching piping and drumming, a small group of pipers and drummers is already operational. This miniband has played on several occasions and has gained popularity in a short notice. See the page: Band in action for details of these performances. Very special was the appearance of a piper and drummer in Diemen (near Amsterdam) on the Farewell Party of veterans of The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada who visited Holland during remembrance weekend in 2000. In the picture gallery you can see an impression of some of those performances.

One of the most important differences of the Seaforth Highlanders of Holland, Memorial Pipes and Drums compared to other pipebands in Holland is the uniform. We have chosen for the uniform that the original Canadian pipeband was wearing during April and May 1945. That means that pipers and drummers are wearing the regimental tartan of The Seaforth Highlanders (MacKenzie) and a green battledress jacket with green kilthose, black armyboots and green puttees. Although most of the uniform parts are not authentical we try to be so historically correct as possible. However some consessions had to be made. For example our drumset is a modern premier set.

In Holland there are only two memorial pipebands. The other band is The 48th Highlanders of Holland Pipes and Drums which is based in Apeldoorn.