The Netherlands Carillon stands near the north end of Arlington National Cemetery, beside the Iwo Jima Memorial — easy to reach but often overlooked. The 127-foot steel tower holds 50 bells given to the United States by the Dutch people in 1954 as thanks for American liberation in World War II and Marshall Plan reconstruction aid.
Free carillon concerts are performed on select Saturdays from spring through autumn, with the carillonneur playing from a glassed cabin partway up the tower while the bells ring across the cemetery and the river. The tower's position gives good views toward Georgetown and the Washington Monument. At twilight when few visitors remain, the terrace around the tower is one of the quietest and most atmospheric spots in the Washington area.