Arnhem
Arnhem has a rich and turbulent history, dating all the way to the Middle Ages and even Roman times. However, Arnhem’s role in the Second World War is probably one of the most impressive stories to tell about the city.
Operation Market Garden
The Battle of Arnhem was at the vanguard of Operation Market Garden, the Allied operation in the Netherlands in September 1944 to end the Second World War by Christmas. It involved the use of airborne and armored divisions carving a path through the Netherlands. Securing vital bridges across the branches of the Lower Rhine and holding these long enough for Allied armored divisions to reach them. From there, the Allies could descend into the heart of Nazi Germany. But the capture of the Rhine Bridge in the center of Arnhem turned out to be an act of overreaching, or ‘a bridge too far’ (which is also the name of an epic book and war movie about the battle). Because of this, the west of the Netherlands could not be liberated and the war lasted another 7 months.
American, Canadian and British heritage
Many Allied forces from – among others – the UK, USA and Canada fought in this part of the Netherlands in World War II. Dutch Luxury Travel takes you to see the battlefields, the Airborne Museum, and the historic city center with the impressive Eusebius Church.
Arnhem is also home to the interesting Dutch Open Air Museum which features dozens of historic houses, farms, and windmills. The museum gives you a realistic impression of daily life for the average Dutch person over the past few centuries.
