The road to freedom

September 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden.

The Arnhem/Nijmegen region played a key role on the world stage towards the end of the Second World War. During Operation Market Garden in September 1944, the Ginkelse Heide heath close to Ede was the site of one of the biggest airborne landing operations in history. Parts of the southern Netherlands were liberated, as far as Nijmegen, but the operation ground to a dramatic halt at the bridge in Arnhem. The subsequent winter was harsh.

A few months later, in February 1945, the final phase of the liberation movement – Operation Veritable – started from the Nijmegen area. It marked the beginning of the great Rhineland Offensive. Soldiers and citizens alike became caught up in an unpredictable war in which the stakes were life or death, joy or sorrow. The enemy was eventually defeated and freedom was restored.

Read here more about the events, commemorations and itineraries regarding Operation Market Garden and the road to freedom.

Also get informed about what's going on concerning this theme by the staff of Citystore Rijk van Nijmegen.

Forward March!

Nijmegen's bridge called De Oversteek (‘The Crossing’), is named after the world-famous crossing of the River Waal by the U.S. 504th Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division in 1944. There are 48 lamp posts on the bridge in memory of the 48 fallen soldiers who lost their lives there. Every day at around sunset, the lamps on the bridge switch on at a slow marching pace. Every day, veterans and other people join in the ‘Sunset March’ across the De Oversteek bridge in honour of the fallen Allied soldiers. Feel free to take part if you wish – anyone can join in.
Commemorative plaques in the street

On 22 February, Nijmegen suffered severe damage during an air raid by the US forces. American bombers unleashed their deadly payloads above Nijmegen, destroying the historic heart of the city in one fell swoop. Over 800 civilians were killed as they were making their way to school, work or the market, and thousands more were injured. The commemorative plaques indicate the fire line following the bombing and show the names of the people who died.
In the footsteps of ...

Liberation Route Europe lets you hear and experience what went on in Gelderland during the final stages of the war. Special boulders, called listening spots, can be found in dozens of locations. An audio recording is available at each listening spot, so that everyone can get a sense of the dramatic situations experienced by civilians and soldiers towards the end of the Second World War.

Around the 80-year commemoration of Operation Market Garden and afterwards of the liberation, numerous activities are organized in the region. They are conveniently listed on this page:
Festival 80 jaar Vrijheid Overasselt (vrijheidregionijmegen.nl)

Freedom Trail

Freedom Trail is an 11-day walking relay through several provinces of The Netherlands. Walk in the footsteps of the liberators and be part of the stories of war and freedom. Stories of wars and conflicts around the world are passed along the way. Along the way, find - sometimes visible in the landscape - the traces of that World War II left behind. The Freedom Trail is about 330 kilometers long and is divided into 22 stages of about 15 km per stage, ending at the John Frost Bridge in Arnhem. The finish of the Freedom Trail joins the commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem and Bridge to Liberation at the “Bridge too Far” in the presence of WWII veterans. The relay will take place from September 10-20, 2024. You can participate by signing up for one or more stages here.

Freedom Museum

The Freedom Museum is located in the beautiful green and hilly landscape of Groesbeek. The museum is close to Germany and right in the area of two of the most important operations on the Western Front during WW2: Market Garden and Veritable. It is a tourist attraction for young and old, from home and abroad. The visitors experience the fascinating Story of War and Freedom without Borders in both the Netherlands and Germany, Europe and beyond. There is never one story. A multifaceted image of the Second World War is created through various perspectives, in the context of the history of the 20th century and current events. The visitor is challenged to think critically about freedom then and now, full of experiences, interactivity and museum masterpieces.

The sustainable building itself, the 12-meter high Dome, is also an attraction and has a strong resemblance to an enormous parachute. From the terrace you have a panoramic view of the historic landscape.

More information

Canadian Cemetery Groesbeek

This cemetery in Groesbeek contains 2,617 soldiers buried who died during World War II. It is the largest cemetery of the British Commonwealth in the Netherlands. Remarkably, all but one Canadian soldier who died during Operation Veritable were buried here and many were even reburied. Close to the cemetery entrance is a monument in the form of a wall of names commemorating 1,047 missing soldiers.

Visit the website