Sister Cities in Bloom: Albany & Nijmegen

Each spring, over 100,000 tulips blossom in Albany’s Washington Park, just across the street from Rockefeller College and the University at Albany Downtown Campus, attracting tens of thousands of visitors on Mother’s Day weekend for the annual Tulip Festival.
The tulip tradition dates back to World War II when Nijmegen, one of the Netherlands’ oldest cities, was heavily damaged during the war. In 1947, Albany citizens responded to a call for help, sending 300 tons of humanitarian aid to the Dutch city via barge. This act of generosity was a significant part of Nijmegen’s reconstruction efforts, offering hope and strength to a city ravaged by conflict.
As a token of appreciation, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands sent 2,000 tulip bulbs to Albany in 1948, which bloomed in Washington Park and sparked the inception of Albany’s annual Tulip Festival. From this exchange, a lasting bond was formed between the two cities.
Nearly eight decades later, Albany and Nijmegen have continued to cultivate an enduring friendship. In September 2024, a diverse group from Albany embarked on a journey to Nijmegen to celebrate and renew the deep-rooted friendship between the two cities. The trip, organized by the Friendship Albany & Nijmegen (FAN) Foundation, provided participants with an immersive experience in the history, culture, and enduring ties that have linked the two cities for generations. The delegation included City of Albany officials, UAlbany and Hudson Valley Community College faculty, staff and students, and representatives from the Albany Tulip Queen Court.
For the UAlbany students who participated in the delegation, this was not only an opportunity to connect with history but also to engage with key international figures and global issues. Dr. Susan Appe, Associate Professor of Public Administration and Policy at UAlbany’s Rockefeller College, accompanied the students and facilitated their active participation in the trip. The students, all enrolled in Rockefeller College, were chosen for their academic excellence and interest in international relations and public policy.
Rockefeller College’s students included Neil Heriot, a political science major currently studying abroad at Sciences Po in Dijon, France; Kayla-Jay Soriano and Alexsis Romain, political science majors studying in Valencia, Spain; and Riley Flint, who’s pursuing a master’s in public administration at Rockefeller College, while studying at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy.
“I could not be prouder of the UAlbany students,” said Appe. “Not only were they superb representatives of the University, but they are extraordinary examples of the caliber of Rockefeller College students. They asked great questions at all of the delegation events, as well as engaged with each other and the other delegates to learn and reflect on our sister-city relationship with Nijmegen and the concept of “freedom,” which is so present in the commemorations of WWII that we witnessed.”
The delegation’s itinerary was filled with meaningful moments that underscored the enduring ties between Albany and Nijmegen, particularly in relation to World War II commemorations. Highlights included speaking with the Honorable Shefali Razdan Duggal, the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The group also attended the unveiling of the Vector, “Albany helps Nijmegen” memorial. The Vectors of Memory are route markers along the Liberation Route Europe Hiking Trail, which serves to honor the veterans of WWII. They commemorated the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Nijmegen with the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army and laid a wreath at the Operation Market Garden 80th Anniversary’s Waal River Crossing Ceremony.
Lastly, the delegation visited a UAlbany partner school, Radboud University, to promote further student exchanges and other international programming between the universities.
“I am humbled to have witnessed Albany’s enduring connection to Nijmegen,” said Riley Flint. “I hope that opportunities for students to strengthen the bond between our two cities continue and I am eager to see how our connection, deeply rooted in history, continues to flourish for the next generation.”
As the Albany-Nijmegen friendship continues to evolve, its foundation—built on mutual respect, historical remembrance, and a shared commitment to freedom—remains as strong as ever. The 2024 delegation trip marked a significant moment in this ongoing partnership, one that promises to inspire future generations of leaders in both cities.
For Albany and Nijmegen, the bond is not just a relic of the past, but a living, growing testament to the enduring power of international friendship.
This article was featured in the Rockefeller College Winter 2025 News Magazine. Click here to read.