This route is located in the municipality of Landerd for the most part. Here, airports, crashed aircraft and Operation Market Garden play an important role in the stories and experiences of the residents. An area that had a turbulent history at both the beginning and the end of the Second World War. From the Germans who bombarded the casemates in 1940, to the Allies who - with the help of heroic inhabitants - tried to hastily cross the area in 1944.

The Netherlands

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Monument along the way

Cycling Liberation Route Landerd

Liberation route Landerd

Six of the eight occupants jump out of the crashing plane. Two reach the ground safely. Four others, hanging in their parachutes, are shot at by the three times returning German fighters. Two of them do not survive. The other two are injured. The two pilots are not able to leave the aircraft. Their plane crashes at Volkel airfield. They are buried in the Catholic cemetery of Zeeland. Their comrades lie in the British war cemetery in Uden."Oorlog en Vrede" cycling routesTwo cycling routes along the military heritage of the municipality Landerd, which played an important role in the past. <a href="/media/2860570/Oorlog_en_vrede_folder.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cycling routes folder and itinerary</a> (PDF)

Dear Mrs. Webb

De Kleine Elft (‘The Little Shad’) was once a hotel at the crossroads in Reek, where the Allies arrived from Zeeland and turned off towards Grave. On Tuesday September 19, everyone from the neighbourhood gathered there to see the liberators. An endless column of military vehicles, tanks and troops streamed past. The liberators passed out chocolate, white bread and cigarettes.When the advance halted, quarters were set up all over Reek. The troops rested, were taken care of and reassembled. Also, at the end of September, troops who had landed at Keent airfield were stationed in the village. As a result, for a while, the village took on the appearance of a military base, where the troops waited for the final thrust to the north. This would only eventually take place 6 months later."Oorlog en Vrede" cycling routesTwo cycling routes along the military heritage of the municipality Landerd, which played an important role in the past. <a href="/media/2860570/Oorlog_en_vrede_folder.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cycling routes folder and itinerary</a> (PDF)

 De Kleine Elft

In the surroundings of the municipality of Landerd, you can meet eyewitnesses who tell about their personal experience of the Second World War. At 6 locations in Reek, Schaijk and Zeeland, you can find tall steel characters who tell a true story that took place at the location in question during the war. You can meet a RAF pilot who tells about a plane crash, a boy who stood during operation Market Garden along Hell’s Highway and a Dutch soldier who tells about the fights at the Peel-Raam Line. These eyewitnesses stand on almost the authentic locations where the story took place and are clearly recognizable in the landscape. More information and a cycling route along all eyewitnesses can be found on www.eyewitnessesww2.nl

In the surroundings of the municipality of Landerd, you can meet eyewitnesses who tell about their personal experience of the Second World War. At 6 locations in Reek, Schaijk and Zeeland, you can find tall steel characters who tell a true story that took place at the location in question during the war. You can meet a RAF pilot who tells about a plane crash, a boy who stood during operation Market Garden along Hell’s Highway and a Dutch soldier who tells about the fights at the Peel-Raam Line.

These eyewitnesses stand on almost the authentic locations where the story took place and are clearly recognizable in the landscape.

More information and a cycling route along all eyewitnesses can be found on <a href="http://www.eyewitnessesww2.nl">www.eyewitnessesww2.nl</a>

Liberation route Landerd

Photos

Sites and stories along the route

Dear Mrs. Webb

De Kleine Elft

Eyewitnesses tell war stories