The Netherlands
Zeeland
During the Second World War, the southwestern region of Zeeland played a crucial role in the liberation of the Netherlands. The Battle of the Scheldt, one of the most intense battles, took place here, in Belgium and Brabant, in the autumn of 1944. Allied forces, including Canadian, British and Polish troops, fought to secure the Scheldt estuary, which was essential for opening the port of Antwerp to Allied shipping. The region suffered severe destruction and flooding as the Allies and Axis powers battled for control of this strategic area.
Today, Zeeland is rich in historical sites, memorials and museums dedicated to preserving the memory of this battle and these difficult times. The Zeeland Liberation Museum in Nieuwdorp has impressive exhibits about the Battle of the Scheldt and the war's impact on the region. The Polderhuis Museum in Westkapelle provides a detailed account of the local experience and the heavy bombardment the town suffered. In Vlissingen, the Oranjemolen stands next to Uncle Beach, one of Zeelands landing sites. In Axel, the Gdynia War Museum displays artefacts and stories of Polish soldiers. The Memorial 40-45 in Kapelle commemorates the French fallen soldiers who fought in the region. The Bunker Museum Bunkerverhalen in Zoutelande offers a fascinating insight into the extensive network of bunkers and fortifications that played a crucial role during the war.
With the Zeeland Remembers program we want to provide a platform for all Zeeland organisations that are involved in this subject. Only the historical sites, objects, stories, photos, films and only a few witnesses bring us back to the events of that time. Preserving this and promoting the value of freedom deserves a common place because we are increasingly distant from the Second World War.
