Visiting Belgium & Holland, what to look for?

S

Sticker

Regular
Rating - 100%
39   0   0
Location
Conservative Eastern Ontario
Hi Guys

I just got an Email from my older sister. She will be visiting Belgium and Holland and she asked me what are the must see battlefield sites for Canadian history?

Ypres was the first thing that popped into my mind, but I want to hear from others, especially those that has been over there themselves.

Thanks

Sticker
 
Ypres was the best battlefield I went to in the area. The Belgian army museum in Brussels, while not being espescially relevant to Canadians, was the best military museum I've ever been in.
 
The Canada/Poland war museum was very nice! Menin Gate, stay for the evening ceremony. The various cemetaries in the area, Tyne Cot is a must, and Flander's Field museum! Various Battle of the Bulge museums in and around Bastogne. We spent 16 days trying to check out everything, but still missed alot, we will be going back next summer! One thing we do not regret is hiring a tour guide, without him we would have missed so much, stuff that was close by. Google is your friend for trying to build an itinerary. Hope this helps, somewhat.
 
Hi Guys
I just got an Email from my older sister. She will be visiting Belgium and Holland and she asked me what are the must see battlefield sites for Canadian history?
Ypres was the first thing that popped into my mind, but I want to hear from others, especially those that has been over there themselves.
Thanks Sticker
Click to expand...

Unless she is into Military History, don't overwhelm her with allot of places and museums to see.

It will soon become boring and a blurrrr.

There are some great museums and places already listed by others.

Ypres is the place to see in Belgium.

There are plenty of Canadian destinations there all close by.

Pick a few, but not too many.

Menin Gate - (check out the The British Grenadier Store by the Menin Gate) - it is owned by a Canadian
Essex Farm Cemetery and the famous dressing station all in one "Major John McCrae"
Passchendaele
Tyne Cot Cemetery
Hill 62 - you can walk actual trenches
St. Juliaan - Brooding Soldier Memorial

Also here is one good website;

w ww.canadiangreatwarproject.com/memorials/ypres.asp

Vimy Ridge is just a short hop from Ypres!

P1020116.jpg
 
Last edited:
Njmegan - the Canadian War Cemetary at Groesbeek is chock full of guys that were killed in Germany during Operation Veritable. General Crerar did not want our boys buried in enemy territory so they were buried just inside the Dutch border. I forced my wife to tag along just a few months and she had a good cry. It is a beautiful piece of work.
 
Second that GROESBEEK... A MUST... FOR ANY Canadian when in Holland. CONTAINS the remains of our boys who where KIA'ed right up to the end of the War. Mostly from the battles against the West Wall. i.e. the Siegfried Line.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom