At the starting point of this route is the landmark 'Windows on the Past', a work of art that gives an impression of the Airborne landings on 18 September 1944. At the foot of the artwork is information about the Battle of Arnhem. The walk then leads over well trodden paths through a nature reserve that is beautiful in all seasons. Forest and heathland can be admired in all their facets. You may be lucky enough to see a flock of sheep and be sure to allow time for a visit to the Heidebloemplas at information panel 2. The area around the sheep pen was originally farmland. Diagonally behind the sheepfold you can still see a piece of grassland and the wooded bank with oak trees. Due to overgrazing, the shifting sands, which were later brought under control by the construction of fences and planting of woods, were created.

The Netherlands

Dropzone Ede

It is September 1944. Arnhem has been occupied by Nazi Germany for four years. The Allied advance has begun, but the front is far away in France. The storm of war seems to be passing Arnhem by.The war in Arnhem&nbsp;Then Operation Market Garden erupted. The largest airborne operation the world has ever seen. Allied troops tried to seize the bridges over the major rivers in one fell swoop. This includes the bridges at Arnhem. The city suddenly becomes a grim front area. There is fighting from house to house. After the fighting, nearly 100,000 people leave their homes in a great hurry. Operation Market Garden comes to a halt and Arnhem is left as a ghost town.

The war in Arnhem 

Operation Market Garden was an Allied offensive, from September 17th until September 26th 1944, during the Second World War. Aerial troops had to capture and hold different bridges over rivers and canals in The Netherlands before they would be supported by ground troops. One of the targets was the Rijnbrug in Arnhem. The German resistance around Arnhem appeared to be much heavier than was expected and it was one of the reasons why the almost 12,000 British and Polish troops couldn’t conquer the bridge.&nbsp;On the 20th of September, Allied troops had to retreat to Oosterbeek. In this village, the perimeter was formed: a horseshoe shaped defense line in and around the village, close to the river Rhine. In the following days, heavy fighting took place within the perimeter. It was difficult to supply the troops in the perimeter and therefore the soldiers faced a severe deficiency in food, medical supplies and ammunition. Lots of soldiers were wounded or had been killed in the ongoing battles. On September 25th, the supplies had run out completely and it became clear that the ground troops could not reach them on time anymore. The remaining troops had to retreat by crossing the river Rhine. 2,400 soldiers reached the safe area at the other side of the river, leaving the wounded and medical staff behind. 6,500 British and Polish troops were captured and taken as prisoners of war. About 1,900 men died.&nbsp;&nbsp;The inhabitants of Oosterbeek had to hide in the cellars during these days in order to avoid the danger, but here too casualties were inevitable. After the battles, Oosterbeek was destroyed and the inhabitants had to be evacuated.&nbsp;The perimeter route passes locations of fierce battles, heroic actions, old farmhouses, former emergency hospitals and testimonies of the war that are still visible in the landscape today.

The Perimeter

This hike passes important milestones in the village of Driel where the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade fought during the Second World War. They were here to support the surrounded British troops near Oosterbeek. To reach the British troops, the Poles had to cross the River Rhine at Driel. The route – of about 6 kilometres – takes you, amongst others, over the landing sites and past the headquarters of Major General Sosabowski. The hike starts and ends at the ‘Information Centre: The Poles of Driel’ which was developed by the Driel Poland Foundation.<iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/55lfsvMVyb0?showinfo=0"></iframe>

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Dropzone Ede

The war in Arnhem

The Perimeter

The Poles of Driel: Walking in the footsteps of Sosabowski and his troops