Twente War Museum Vriezenveen

The foundation for the museum’s collection was laid immediately after the war by Henk Abbink. As a teenager, he witnessed a plane crash behind his parental home. The aircraft turned out to be the P-47 Thunderbolt flown by Major F.J. Nelander. The young Henk saw how the pilot managed to reach safety and, during his escape, threw his weapon into a ditch. That pistol — retrieved by Henk and his father — became the very first piece of what is now the museum’s extensive collection.

The museum also features a range of vehicles and motorcycles, including the famous Studebaker Weasel (an amphibious vehicle) and the Bren Carrier. Particularly noteworthy is the museum’s uniform cabinet, which displays Dutch, German, British, Canadian, and American uniforms from various branches of the military - from combat attire to full dress uniforms.

What truly sets the museum apart are the personal stories of veterans. Of course, there is the story of Major Nelander, but also that of Canadian Captain S.J. Cornish, who led a small meteorological unit. After visiting the museum, Cornish told his daughter that upon his death, all his military equipment should be donated to the museum. And so it happened - the museum now holds his complete kit trunk, along with the story of its origin.