Dutch king Willem-Alexander has spoken of the special relationship between the Netherlands and Canada at a state banquet in his honour hosted by governor general David Johnston.

The king and queen Maxima are on a three-day visit to Canada. It is the first time Willem-Alexander has been there in 35 years.

More than one million Canadians have Dutch roots and his own family has strong ties with Canada, the king said. ‘When our national flag was banned in the Netherlands, it was hoisted here, in the democratic heart of Canada,’ the king is quoted as saying by news agency ANP.

The king also praised the Canadian role in the liberation of the Netherlands. ‘The price Canada paid was high,’ he said. ‘Some 7,600 soldiers died in the struggle for our freedom.’

Earlier in the day, the Dutch king and queen met prime minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen and laid a wreath at the national war memorial in Ottawa.

Next week the Dutch royals will visit the US for three days. The programme includes a meeting with president Barak Obama at the White House.