Many German soldiers fled via Harlingen to North Holland in the final days before the liberation. North Holland was part of ‘Festung Holland’ (Fortress Holland), a strategic defense concept and fortified area in the Netherlands designed to protect the port of Rotterdam and other vital infrastructure from a potential Allied invasion during World War II. The soldiers escaped on foot and with vehicles via the Afsluitdijk causeway, as well as by ship through the port of Harlingen. 

After the surrender of Nazi Germany, the harbour was used to transport German Prisoners of War from North Holland back to Germany. Friesland was on this route. Of the approximately 140,000 prisoners of war, around 25,000 were transferred from the municipality of Den Helder to Harlingen by ships and landing craft on 21 May 1945. 

Most of the prisoners were escorted by Canadian units in large groups across the Afsluitdijk causeway to Friesland between 25 May and 5 June 1945. A rest stop was made in the area between the villages of Zurich, Witmarsum, and Pingjum. The march then continued through the cities of Bolsward and Sneek, and the villages of Akkrum, Beetsterzwaag, Siegerswoude, and Bakkeveen towards Germany. 

The Harlingen harbour was also used to transfer Dutch collaborators who had fled to Terschelling to various internment camps. One such person was P.J.E. Dekker, the Nationaal-Socialistische Beweging (National Socialist Movement) Mayor of Harlingen. He had escaped to Terschelling but was brought back ashore at this location.