The city of Antwerp had already been captured by Allied forces on 4 September 1944 with its deep-sea port intact. However, to solve the supply problems, the Allied nations needed to gain access to the North Sea, to facilitate material provisioning and personnel reinforcements. At this point, the canals, rivers, and waterways around Antwerp toward the North Sea, including the 95-kilometre-long Western Scheldt, were still in German hands.&nbsp;&nbsp;Gaining full access to the port of Antwerp was essential, because the city and port of Rotterdam had been heavily bombed in 1940 during the Nazi’s invasion of the Netherlands. Additionally, the artificial Mulberry Harbour off the coast of Arromanches-les-Bains in Normandy, which was working above its capacity, had already been left far behind by the Allied troops in their advance along the Western Front. Despite some smaller French port cities being liberated since D-Day (6 June 1944), the Allies needed another major port to ensure adequate supplies for their troops throughout the coming winter months.&nbsp;Clearing the Scheldt Estuary&nbsp;The First Canadian Army under the leadership of Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds was responsible for this great battle, while American and British troops had led Operation Market Garden (17 to 25 September 1944), the attempted advance into the Netherlands across the Lower Rhine River. The unsuccessful execution of this operation caused a delay in the battle for the Scheldt, which gave the German Wehrmacht time to reinforce their defences and personnel along the Scheldt Estuary.&nbsp;The clearing of this strategic area took the Canadian, British, Polish, US-American, Belgian, Dutch, Free French and Norwegian units several weeks. The strong defence facilities, called the German Atlantic Wall, in combination with the fierce resistance of dug-in German troops made it hard for the Allies to obtain the upper hand over the region’s various islands and riverbanks.&nbsp;Poor battle conditions&nbsp;Bad, rainy weather resulting in muddy ground made the fighting unbearable and seemingly hopeless at times. In numbers, however, the Allies were stronger than the Germans. Roughly 135,000 Allied soldiers faced some 90,000 battle-hardened Wehrmacht troops. The British Royal Air Force strategically breached some dykes to weaken the Nazi defences, causing inundations and facilitating the use of amphibious vehicles.&nbsp;The Battle of the Scheldt was one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the Second World War on Belgian and Dutch soil. Numerous amphibious assaults, obstacle crossings and attacks over open ground made the Allied soldiers vulnerable to hostile fire. Despite taking more than 40,000 prisoners, and clearing the Scheldt Estuary as ordered, the Allies sustained heavy losses. Almost twenty-one thousand Allied soldiers (among them over six thousand Canadians) lost their lives during these weeks.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Supplying the Allied advance&nbsp;Clearing the port of mines after its capture took another three weeks, with the first Allied supply ships finally landing in Antwerp on 29 November 1944. This reinforcement was sorely needed for the further advance through the Netherlands into Germany and for the Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, which was imminent in the winter of 1944/45 (16 December 1944 to 28 January 1945). Between November 1944 and the end of the Second World War in Europe (8 May 1945), 2.5 million tons of supplies arrived through the port of Antwerp, which were critical for finally defeating the German troops.&nbsp;

Battle of the Scheldt – A costly Allied advance on the Western Front

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW166762881 BCX0" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/themed-routes/18/battle-of-the-scheldt">Battle of the Scheldt Hiking Route</a>&nbsp;This route follows the history of one of the most significant battles of WWII, the Battle of the Scheldt. This series of military operations that took place in the autumn of 1944 forever changed the course of history of Zeeland and in West-Brabant.&nbsp;You’ll walk through the hills that separate Zeeland from Brabant, experiencing the landscape where the Allies fought to secure access to the Westerschelde river (the gateway to Antwerp’s port). Along the route, you’ll encounter reminders of the war, such as former Dutch Spanish <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW166762881 BCX0" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/pois/2033/dutch-spanish-forts-still-of-use">forts</a> used by Polish soldiers in September 1944 or commemorative monuments like '<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW166762881 BCX0" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/pois/2015/the-dying-pole">The dying Pole</a>' or '<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW166762881 BCX0" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/pois/2025/the-fallen-warrior">the Fallen Warrior</a>'.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW166762881 BCX0" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/themed-routes/68/in-the-footsteps-of-the-canadian-liberators">The Zeeland part of the Canadian Trail</a>&nbsp;You can explore the history of the Battle of the Scheldt and other significant WWII battles in the region by walking the Zeeland section of the "Hiking in the Footsteps of the Canadian Liberators" trail. This extensive route highlights the crucial role played by Canadian soldiers in the liberation of the Netherlands.&nbsp;Along the way, you will visit the key city of Flushing (Vlissingen), which was liberated by the Scots of the 5th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, during the Battle of the Scheldt. You will also learn about the Allied use of smoke screens to disorient German forces.&nbsp;Beyond the famous Battle of the Scheldt, the trail explores the broader wartime history of Zeeland. At the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW166762881 BCX0" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/pois/1145/memorial-40-45-kapelle">Memorial 40-45</a> in Kapelle, you will discover the story of the lesser-known French battle that took place in Zeeland in May 1940. In the village of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW166762881 BCX0" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/pois/1980/tragedy-of-s-gravenpolder">Gravenpolder</a>, you'll learn about the heavy price paid by its residents during the liberation.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW166762881 BCX0" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/themed-routes/79/polish-cycling-route-zeeland">Polish Cycling Route Zeeland</a>&nbsp;Polish soldiers played an essential but often forgotten role in liberating Zeeland. The Polish Cycling Route Zeeland sheds the light on their contributions. It is a part of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW166762881 BCX0" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/themed-routes/83/national-polish-cycling-route-in-the-netherlands">National Polish Cycling Route</a> in the Netherlands which aims at raising awareness about the efforts of Polish soldiers during WWII in the Netherlands.&nbsp;The route starts at the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW166762881 BCX0" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/pois/1143/war-museum-gdynia">Gdynia War Museum</a> and takes you through the towns and countryside where Polish troops fought. One key location is <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW166762881 BCX0" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/pois/969/the-liberation-of-hulst">Hulst</a>, with its towering Saint Willibrordus Basilica, a lookout point used during the war.&nbsp;You’ll also encounter cemeteries, museums, and battlefields, including the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW166762881 BCX0" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/pois/2029/polish-bridge-in-zaamslag">Polish Cross in Zaamslag</a> and the site of the fierce battle at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW166762881 BCX0" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/pois/2032/battle-at-bonte-koe">Bontekoe</a>. The route highlights stories like that of Polish fighter pilot <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW166762881 BCX0" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/pois/2122/polish-spitfire-pilot-taken-prisoner">Tadeusz Jan Legowski</a>, who was captured near Hulst after his Spitfire was shot down. The audiospots present along the route will provide you with the opportunity to further enrich your knowledge on this topic.&nbsp;Zeeland’s hiking and cycling routes offer a unique opportunity to combine outdoor adventure with historical insight. Grab your shoes and backpack and experience these historical landscapes for yourself. Visit our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW166762881 BCX0" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/">LRE website</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW166762881 BCX0" href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.liberationroute.mobile&amp;pli=1">download</a> our hiking app so you can plan your trip!&nbsp;

Hiking & Cycling Routes in Zeeland 

Operation “Market” was the name of the airborne operation, the first part of OMG, carried out by British, US-American, and Polish airborne troops. More than 35,000 Allied soldiers were dropped over important Dutch bridges (over the rivers Meuse, Waal and Rhine) between Eindhoven and Arnhem with the aim to occupy them. Operation “Garden”, the second part of OMG, involved the advance of the ground troops, with the British XXX Army Corps having to relieve the airborne troops at the captured bridges as quickly as possible.&nbsp;Operation Market Garden, proposed by British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, was very ambitious, but ultimately failed to achieve its strategic goal. German resistance to the Allied conquest of the occupied territories was much fiercer than expected. In addition, bad weather conditions in England hampered the supply of reinforcements and supplies which were paramount for sustaining the bridgeheads along the rivers. The ground troops’ route of advance was cut off several times by the Wehrmacht and came to be known as <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW77417285 BCX0" href="https://www.europeremembers.com/pois/189/hells-highway">“Hell’s Highway”</a>.&nbsp;The Allied advance in the Netherlands&nbsp;On the morning of September 17, 1944, three divisions of the 1st Allied Airborne Army – the American 82nd and the 101st Airborne Armies and the British 1st Airborne Division started their journey in aeroplanes across the North Sea. They were dropped over strategic locations in the Netherlands, due to the weather conditions often longer distances away from the targeted bridges than anticipated. The city of Nijmegen in Gelderland played an important role during Operation Market Garden. With its two bridges over the Waal (the main branch of the Rhine), control of the city was vital to the planned advance on Arnhem.&nbsp;Glider infantry and paratrooper units were landed into the Arnhem area during OMG and faced the German troops in the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW77417285 BCX0" href="https://www.europeremembers.com/pois/181/the-battle-of-arnhem">Battle of </a>Arnhem (17 to 26 September 1944). The members of the British 1st Airborne Division at the Rhine bridge at Arnhem eventually ran out of ammunition, were beleaguered and then partly captured as prisoners of war on 21 September 1944. After nine days of fighting, the division’s remnants were evacuated during a night-time rescue mission called <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW77417285 BCX0" href="https://www.europeremembers.com/pois/680/operation-berlin">Operation </a>Berlin (25 to 26 September 1944).&nbsp;Covered by the 1st Polish Parachute Brigade and surrounded on three sides by superior German forces, approximately 2,400 men were withdrawn from the German-occupied territory north of the Lower Rhine. After this retreat, the Allies were unable to advance further and the front-line stabilised south of Arnhem. The road bridge at Arnhem became the proverbial “bridge too far”. It was later destroyed by advancing Allied troops, reopened in 1948 and named <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW77417285 BCX0" href="https://www.europeremembers.com/pois/188/john-frost-bridge">John Frost Bridge</a> (John Frostbrug), a homage to the British airborne commander.&nbsp;The Aftermath of Operation Market Garden's Failure&nbsp;As a result of the failure of Operation Market Garden, the Allies had no choice but to launch a frontal and costly attack on the defensive lines of the German borders. This attack took place from 8 February to 11 March 1945 (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="Hyperlink SCXW77417285 BCX0" href="https://www.europeremembers.com/en/pois/185/operation-veritable">Operation Veritable</a>) and was part of the larger Rhineland Offensive. The operation was launched from the Nijmegen-Groesbeek area and from the province of Limburg.&nbsp;Although Operation Market Garden was not successful in its entirety, it did result in the liberation of millions of civilians in the southern regions of the Netherlands. The rest of the country had to wait for its liberation until 5 May 1945, which is celebrated annually as the national holiday “Liberation Day” (Bevrijdingsdag).&nbsp;

Operation Market Garden – an ambitious endeavour

Program to be announced later.

Belgium 

Nuts Weekend @ Bastogne War Museum

To mark the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of France, the Département du Var and the Musée National de la Marine in Toulon are joining forces to highlight the landings on the Var coast on 15 August 1944.The exhibition Operation Dragoon. 1944, the Provence landings in photographs features a large number of photographs from French, British and American institutions, illustrating the preparation and conduct of this major yet little-known event of the Second World War.Opposite: A convoy of ships carrying the men of the 1st Army Corps set sail from Naples for France in preparation for the Allied landings on the coast of Provence (Operation Anvil-Dragoon) in August 1944.July to August: 10am-6pm dailySeptember to June: 10am-6pm every day except TuesdayClosed on 25 December and 1 January

France

Operation Dragoon 1944, the Provence Landing in Photographs

The relationship between love and war is intimate and as old as mankind. Under the threat of death, life and love are experienced much more intensely. World War II affected the love life of a whole generation of people. They - as always - got butterflies in their stomachs: in the air-raid shelter, in hiding, at the front or simply on the streets. The 'Love in wartime' exhibition, from 5 June 2024 to 30 March 2025, shows how people found each other under difficult circumstances. And how feelings can overcome everything. After all, what is 'right' or 'wrong' in love? In the 'Love in Wartime' exhibition, we see war from its most intimate, human side. From a boy who met his first boyfriend during forced labour in Germany to a newly married couple who survived Auschwitz, always looking for a sign that the other was still alive. These personal love stories often had major consequences, such as: the journey of thousands of wartime brides to and from the Netherlands, the at least as many children fathered by an Allied or German soldier, the persecution of homosexuals and large-scale paid love in the war years. Behind special curtains, adults can even peek into stories about wartime sex and admire vibrators from the 1940s.Love in Wartime is a unique exhibition that immerses visitors in the atmosphere of a cosy 1940s street with fully historically decorated rooms on either side. Behind one door is a living room, behind the other a hiding place or a café celebrating the liberation. This makes the exhibition an adventurous experience for young and old. The exhibition 'Love in wartime' is inspired by Steffie van den Oord's book of the same name, available in new print from 4 June 2024.The Freedom Museum shows the passionate story of love with unique masterpieces such as sheet music, diaries, love letters and wedding dresses. An intimate exhibition with never-before-seen material that will make your heart beat faster!

The Netherlands

Love in Wartime

A great range of lectures for lovers of local history! Those interested in the stories of the Second World War will have an extra treat this year with lectures by Christ Klep (known from the NOS Liberation News, among others), Erwin van Loo and Kees Slager. These lectures are centred on the municipality of Steenbergen's ‘𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛 80 𝑗𝑎𝑎𝑟 𝑣𝑟𝑖𝑗’ programme.A lecture on the discovery of a box of old Steenbergen sheet music and the story of 100 years of Sinterklaas in Steenbergen complete the cycle.26 April: Music Unites!By Hanneke Meulblok with music by Claudia de Groen2 May: The Liberation of West BrabantBy Christ Klep31 May: The Air War over West BrabantBy Erwin van Loo13 June: In distress one gets to know one's friendsBy Kees Slager22 November: Saint Nicholas in SteenbergenBy Ad Vermeulen

Lecture series Steenbergen

Around 5pm on Christmas Eve, all the lights will be up and lit. From then until Boxing Day, the lights will be on and the cemeteries will be open to the public.

Evening of lights

Evening of lights. Candles at the graves all fallen soldiers buried here, placed by volunteers.

After long years of absence of freedom Pilsen celebrated its 45th Anniversary of the liberation by the US Army in 1990 with the participation of the president Václav Havel and the US Ambassador in Prague Shirley Temple Black. Together with the living history clubs, the City of Pilsen preserves the tradition of celebrating the liberation, that is why the first days in May belong to the Liberation Festival. For this event, visitors from all around the world come to celebrate - with the citizens, American veterans, their family relative at present respectively – the freedom. Traditional parts of the celebrations are commemorative acts at the memorials of the American units participating in the liberation of the city, the unique display of vintage military vehicles Convoy of Liberty and the presentation of the living history clubs offering impressive interpretation of history with the period equipment and gear held on a year basis. The military history program is enhanced by culture show intended for the broad public with the participation of Czech and foreign performers.The Liberation Festival is unforgettable experience with its unique atmosphere remembering the contribution of the US Army to the liberation of Europe.

Czech Republic

Liberation Festival Pilsen - the liberation by the US Army

In the municipality of Geldrop – Mierlo, the official ceremony is held at the British War Cemetery. In collaboration with the Municipality and the Oranje Committee Mierlo, the “De Drie Harten” foundation organizes the commemoration at the British War Cemetery on Geldropseweg. During this event, not only are those who fell during World War II remembered, but also those who continue to fight for peace today. Thanks to the contributions of the mayor, a representative of the municipal council, clergy, scouting groups, musical bands, choirs, the Guilds of Geldrop-Mierlo, and speakers, a solemn commemoration takes place every year.

Dodenherdenking (Remembrance Day)

With the performance ‘We'll meet again’, singing trio The Forces Sweethearts reflects on 80 years of freedom in the Netherlands. Memories are brought to life thanks to beautiful stories and anecdotes from the time surrounding World War II. All this will be framed musically by music from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Think of the big hits by Vera Lynn, Doris Day and, of course, The Andrews Sisters. Do you remember them? ‘Bei mir bist du schon’, ‘Rum and coca cola’, ‘Those were the days’ and of course ‘We'll meet again’! Thanks to their beautiful three-part vocals, swinging dance moves and stylish outfits, The Forces Sweethearts will make this performance a feast of recognition and allow us to reflect together on this special milestone.

Theatre concert 'We'll meet again'- 80 years freedom

In the context of the 80th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War, we are planning the creation of a historical walk with memorial sites of the settlement of Kato Ampelokipi that connect them with the history of the Second World War. In particular, an anniversary map will be created that will be placed at the entrance of the settlement and will capture memorial sites with short stories of the Second World War, while at each of these points there will be special markings, so that the visitor, through a historical walk , to explore unknown stories 80 years later. The anniversary project will be launched on May 9, 2025 as part of the "Victory Day" celebrations in Europe.

Historical walk

The following days saw intense fighting along the Axel-Hulst Canal, and in Hulst, German forces used the 60-meter tower of the Saint Willibrordus basilica as a strategic point—only after twenty direct hits did the spire collapse. ⛪️Today, the Polish Field of Honor in Axel’s General Cemetery commemorates the Polish soldiers who died in the fight for liberation. 🙏

Battle of the Scheldt Axel and Hulst

There, you’ll find Mario Maas’s extensive collection of World War II artefacts, gathered over 45 years. 📍Located in a barn that survived the 1944 battlefield, the museum features historic vehicles and rare wartime items. Run by volunteers, it offers a detailed look at the clash between Polish and German forces in the region, preserving an important piece of history.

Commemorate the end of WWII – 80 years later

Featured events

Nuts Weekend @ Bastogne War Museum

Operation Dragoon 1944, the Provence Landing in Photographs

Love in Wartime

Next events

Lecture series Steenbergen

Nuts Weekend @ Bastogne War Museum

Evening of lights

Evening of lights

Liberation Festival Pilsen - the liberation by the US Army

Dodenherdenking (Remembrance Day)

Theatre concert 'We'll meet again'- 80 years freedom

Historical walk

Our videos

Battle of the Scheldt Axel and Hulst

The Gdynia War Museum

Blog

Battle of the Scheldt – A costly Allied advance on the Western Front

Hiking & Cycling Routes in Zeeland

Operation Market Garden – an ambitious endeavour

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