Battlefield Tours
Discover the stories, decisions and people behind the battlefields of the Netherlands and Belgium.
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The most famous battle fought in the Netherlands was Operation Market Garden, a push to capture the bridges across the main rivers. This turned out to be "A Bridge too Far".
Other battles were fought by British, American, Polish and Canadian troops, and from Amsterdam it is possible to visit the Battle of the Bulge and Hürtgen Forest.
Operation Market Garden
It was the biggest airborne operation at the time, the effort to bypass German defences in one big push across the rivers of Holland. The idea was that, if it succeeded, the road to Germany would be open. The operation failed as the bridge at Arnhem proved to be one "bridge too far".
From the Belgian border all the way to Arnhem there are many stories to tell and sites to visit. It was an incredibly complicated battle and only when you stand on the actual ground can you truly appreciate the dynamics, distances and obstacles involved. Only then does the battle start to make sense.
The Battle of Arnhem
A full-day private journey from the Ginkel Heath landing zones to the bridge at Arnhem.
Visit the Airborne Museum at Hartenstein and discover how the battle unfolded on the ground.
Optional extensions:
* Visit Driel, the Polish village
* The Crossroads battle
* The bridge at Nijmegen
* Visit places of personal interest
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from €345
per person
Other options
If you would like to visit the Nijmegen and Grave operations, or have another personal area of interest, get in touch.
Other Market Garden tours
From Joe's bridge to a Bridge too Far
In this two-day tour we start at Joe's Bridge in Belgium and follow Hell's Highway all the way to Arnhem. We visit the dropzones, the bridges, the battle around Nijmegen and finally the Battle of Arnhem.
We finish at the bridge which was one too far.
Market Garden, the German story
Many historians now say that Market Garden was not so much a lost battle by the Allied forces, but the last big victory of the Germans.
In this tour we look at the events from the German perspective.
Band of Brothers in Holland
From the drop-zones near Eindhoven to the crossroads battle on the Island. Visit the places Easy Company fought and get to understand more of operation Market Garden on the way.
Optional:
* Visit van Gogh's Nuenen
* Arnhem Bridge
* The battle of Nijmegen
* Visit places of personal interest
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from €345
per person
Other options
Get in touch to discuss options to visit the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne.
You can follow Easy Company all the way from England to Austria in my 11-day journey.
The battlefields of the Netherlands
The liberation of The Netherlands took many months and many battles. British, American, Canadian and Polish troops fought long and hard from town to town and city to city. Contact me to visit the places you are interested in, the museums and cemeteries, memorials and battle sites that are now often forgotten.
STORIES FROM THE ROAD
Past battlefield tours
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Every tour is different. I always tailor the experience to what my guests are looking for.
No tank in sight
I was in Normandy for a week with a camper and my dog, where Easy Company, known from Band of Brothers, fought.
Researching the Poles
Bernhard did a training course in the Irish army and had to give a presentation on the Poles in the Battle of Arnhem.
A personal journey
David Dobie's godson spent a day with me in Arnhem. We found the house where he had been hiding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning a private historical journey? Here are some of the questions guests often ask before travelling.
Do I need to be a military historian to enjoy these tours?
Not at all. Some guests have studied World War II for years, while others simply want to better understand what happened. I adapt the journey to your level of knowledge and interests, whether you are a beginner or an enthusiast.
Which battlefields can we visit?
The most popular journeys focus on Operation Market Garden, Arnhem, Nijmegen and the Band of Brothers locations. On request, I also offer tours covering the Battle of the Scheldt, the Ardennes Offensive, the Hürtgen Forest and operations involving British, American, Canadian and Polish forces.
Will we visit museums as well as battlefield locations?
Usually, yes. Many journeys combine key battlefield locations with museums, memorials and cemeteries. However, every itinerary can be adapted to your interests and the time available.
Can you focus on a specific military unit or family connection?
Absolutely. Many guests have a personal connection through a relative who served during the war. If possible, I can incorporate specific units, divisions, battlefields or family stories into the journey.
What makes visiting the battlefield different from reading about it?
Maps and books can explain what happened, but standing on the ground where events unfolded gives a completely different perspective. Distances, terrain, river crossings, defensive positions and the decisions commanders faced often become much clearer when you experience the landscape itself.
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Frequently Asked Question
Do the Dutch still hate the Germans?
Yes, we do. Not for the war. We are friends now. But we will never forgive them that they beat us in the 1974 World Cup final.
