Netherlands Carillon, Arlington

The Netherlands Carillon is a bell tower given by the people of the Netherlands to the United States in gratitude for American aid during and after the Second World War. Dedicated on May 5, 1960, the fifteenth anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands, it symbolizes freedom and the continuing friendship between the two countries.

The carillon originally contained 49 bells and was later expanded to 50. During a major restoration begun in 2019, the bells were taken to the Netherlands for repair and retuning, while the tower’s steel structure and exterior panels were rehabilitated. Three new bells honoring George C. Marshall, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King Jr. were added, bringing the instrument to 53 bells and giving it the range of a grand carillon. The restored carillon was formally rededicated on May 5, 2022. Its bells are played from a keyboard through a mechanical system, while automated chimes and musical selections are also heard daily. The tower stands in an open park with lawns, flower beds, paths, and views toward the Potomac River and nearby national monuments. Concerts are presented on selected dates. Quarter-hour chimes sound daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., a medley of United States military service songs plays at noon, and the Dutch and American national anthems sound at 6:00 p.m.

The grounds remain open throughout the year, allowing visitors to view the tower and hear its bells, although visitors cannot climb the structure.