Visit the other Holland

Set amidst the beautiful countryside of Groesbeek lies the Vrijheidsmuseum. The museum is situated close to Germany and right at the heart of the area where two of the most significant operations on the Western Front during the Second World War took place: Market Garden and Veritable. Here, in the permanent exhibition, visitors experience the Story of War and Freedom without Borders in the Netherlands, Germany, Europe and beyond. The Second World War is explored from various perspectives, and visitors are challenged to think critically about freedom then and now, through immersive experiences, interactivity and the museum’s finest exhibits.

After visiting the museum, pay a visit to the military cemetery in Groesbeek. This is the final resting place for 2,619 soldiers who lost their lives in the Second World War – mainly Canadians, but also other victims from the Commonwealth. The hundreds of rows of gravestones are a truly impressive sight, one that never fails to move visitors to silence.

The Nijmegen WWII Information Centre is a historical and tourist information point where visitors can learn more about the Nijmegen area during the Second World War. The video presentation is certainly worth watching; it provides a brief overview of the war years in the Nijmegen region. Afterwards, there’s time to explore Nijmegen. You can do this on a city walk, or simply by doing a spot of shopping.

With phenomenal views of the world-famous John Frost Bridge, ‘Airborne at the Bridge’ tells the personal stories of British Lieutenant John Grayburn, German Hauptsturmführer Viktor Eberhard Gräbner and Dutch Captain Jacob Groenewoud, who fought and lost their lives here during the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. 

The permanent exhibition at the Airborne Museum at Hartenstein recounts the day-to-day events of the Battle of Arnhem, from the airborne landings on the heath to the evacuation across the Rhine. Highlights include Lieutenant-Colonel John Frost’s hunting horn and Major-General Roy Urquhart’s binoculars. In the underground Airborne Experience, visitors literally walk through, step by step, the story of the Battle of Arnhem. Suddenly, you find yourself in the midst of the fierce fighting in the streets of Arnhem in the 1940s. The sounds of a devastating war: gunfire, explosions, British shouts, German orders, the fear of those in hiding.

On 5 May 1945, the capitulation of the German occupying forces was formalised at Hotel de Wereld. Canadian General Foulkes chose this hotel as the venue for negotiations because of its location on the front line, the absence of civilians following the evacuation, and the metaphorical nature of the name ‘De Wereld’. Foulkes met the German Colonel-General Blaskowitz in what is now known as the ‘Great Surrender Hall’ to negotiate the surrender, with Prince Bernhard also present in his capacity as commander of the Internal Armed Forces. The Germans proved willing to surrender, and thus Hotel de Wereld in Wageningen became a monument to peace and freedom in 1945.

During the Airborne commemorations in 2019, the landmark ‘Windows on the Past’ on the Ginkelse Heide was officially unveiled. That day marked 75 years since the British 4th Parachute Brigade landed at the site to take part in the Battle of Arnhem. The landmark is not a monument, but a work of art that conveys an impression of the Airborne landing. At the foot of the landmark are plaques providing information about the Battle of Arnhem.

The National Canadian Liberation Monument is a war memorial in Apeldoorn, popularly known as the ‘man with the two hats’. The monument stands in a straight line towards Ottawa, Canada. In Ottawa, there is a second monument, aligned directly with Apeldoorn. The memorial commemorates the liberation of the Netherlands by the Canadians. The two hats symbolise the bond of friendship that has developed between the Netherlands and Canada.

From 17 April 2020, there will be a new audio walking route in Apeldoorn featuring 30 remarkable stories about the Second World War. During the signposted walk, walkers can listen to the full history of the liberation of Apeldoorn and the Canadian liberators via their mobile phones. On the special app, you can listen to remarkable and personal stories about the Second World War in Apeldoorn. The walk is marked by tiles featuring maple leaves. 

The Canadian War Cemetery in Holten is a place for reflection. It is here that the victims of the Second World War are commemorated. Behind each of these 1,394 graves lies an impressive story. In the adjacent information centre, visitors gain a better understanding of the layout of the war cemetery and learn more about the fallen soldiers. Through personal stories, anecdotes and photographs – often donated by relatives – the memory of those who fell is kept alive. An important part of the information centre is the cinema, where a film about the liberation of the eastern Netherlands by the Canadians is shown.

Hattem is one of the Hanseatic towns in the Veluwe, with its own distinct charm and identity. The illustrious history of the medieval Hanseatic League has left its mark here, transforming the town into an attractive tourist destination. The town centre boasts many authentic speciality shops and lovely outdoor cafés. Hattem also has no fewer than three museums!

Visit the Bakery Museum, where the life of a baker is showcased and visitors get a behind-the-scenes look at an old bakery. Take a peek behind the scenes of a baker’s life, experience days gone by in the old bakery and take part in fun baking activities! A visit to the bakery can easily be combined with a city walk. Duration: approximately 2.5 hours.

Walking through the town of Elburg, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped back into the Middle Ages. The Oude Wallen, with their magnificent trees, narrow alleyways, cobbled pavements and stunning vistas, transform the fortified town into an atmospheric setting that’s a delight to explore on foot. The design of this fishing town is based on the principle of the golden ratio – a rarity in urban planning – to which the town owes its distinctive shape with its rectangular street layout.

Be sure to visit the Botterwerf with its old fishing boats and the Sjoel Museum, which tells the story of the (un)ordinary lives of twelve Jewish families who lived in Elburg from 1700 onwards. Afterwards, it’s time for a delicious lunch at the Eembier Brewery, where you can also take a guided tour of the brewery. Duration: approximately 2.5 hours.

Members of the Dutch royal family have lived and worked at Het Loo Palace for over 300 years. The House of Orange received their guests at the palace, for both official and private occasions. The gardens of Het Loo Palace have been fully reconstructed and look exactly like the Baroque garden from the time of King-Stadtholder William III and his wife Mary Stuart II, the first residents of Het Loo Palace. The garden is symmetrical, featuring many different patterns, stunning fountains and historic plantings.

Cannenburch Castle features authentic 18th-century interiors. The paintings, porcelain, furniture and other household items were already in this very spot a hundred years ago. Together with the many portraits, this offers a fascinating insight into the castle’s rich history. Another highlight is the servants’ quarters on the grounds, where you can see how the staff at Cannenburch lived. The steward’s house and the castle farm are also open to visitors.

You can also have lunch here.