Martin tower Liberation routesThe Martinus tower in the small town of Gennep is a permanent reminder of WW2 and lets us know that peace and freedom cannot be taken for granted. It is the only tower on the Meuse River from Mook to Roermond that survived the war. When retreating behind the Meuse, the Wehrmacht blew up the church towers on the left bank of the Meuse and placed lookouts in the towers on the right bank of the Meuse. These towers were then smashed by Allied artillery. All but one: the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/pois/787/martinus-tower">Gennep's Martinus tower</a>.The tower was on the front line from September 1944 to February 1945. Had one been in the spire in September 1944, one would have seen thousands of paratroopers and hundreds of Gliders land over neighbouring Groesbeek as part of Operation Market Garden. On 8 February, the front moved again. More than 1,000 guns shelled the neighbouring Reichswald forest and one could have watched from the tower as a roller of steel and fire swept across the great forest. Operation Veritable, the last major battle on the western front, had begun.Today, the Martinus Tower is a visitor centre with many reminders of this time. In particular, the Martinus Tower Liberation Routes, with starting and finishing points at the Martinus Tower, show the numerous traces of the tough battle in the region. The routes include the largest and second largest war museums in the Netherlands (Overloon and Groesbeek). The British Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery and Kriegsgräberstätte Donsbrügen, among others, are located in and near the Reichswald. The routes pass numerous monuments and ruins and 14 audio spots/listening boulders tell the special stories at these locations.The 8 Martinustoren Liberation Routes can be found on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://martinustoren.nl/en/liberation-route">Martinustoren website</a>. On the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/themed-routes/12/gennep-and-the-price-of-freedom">Liberation Route website</a>, one can find another special route: Gennep and the price of freedom.The routes go through 4 beautiful Natura 2000 landscapes: the St Jansberg, the Reichswald, the Maasduinen and the Maasheggen.Entry to the Martinustoren visitor centre is free.&nbsp;Gennep's Martinus tower<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/pois/787/martinus-tower">https://www.liberationroute.com/pois/787/martinus-tower</a>Martin tower Liberation routes<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://martinustoren.nl/en/liberation-route">https://martinustoren.nl/en/liberation-route</a>Gennep and the price of freedom<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.liberationroute.com/themed-routes/12/gennep-and-the-price-of-freedom">https://www.liberationroute.com/themed-routes/12/gennep-and-the-price-of-freedom</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Netherlands

Martin tower Liberation routes

With the performance ‘We'll meet again’, singing trio The Forces Sweethearts reflects on 80 years of freedom in the Netherlands. Memories are brought to life thanks to beautiful stories and anecdotes from the time surrounding World War II. All this will be framed musically by music from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Think of the big hits by Vera Lynn, Doris Day and, of course, The Andrews Sisters. Do you remember them? ‘Bei mir bist du schon’, ‘Rum and coca cola’, ‘Those were the days’ and of course ‘We'll meet again’! Thanks to their beautiful three-part vocals, swinging dance moves and stylish outfits, The Forces Sweethearts will make this performance a feast of recognition and allow us to reflect together on this special milestone.

Theatre concert 'We'll meet again'- 80 years freedom

Theatre concert 'We'll meet again' - 80 years freedom

With the performance ‘We'll meet again’, singing trio The Forces Sweethearts reflects on 80 years of freedom in the Netherlands.Memories are brought to life thanks to beautiful stories and anecdotes from the time surrounding World War II.All this will be framed musically by music from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Think of the big hits by Vera Lynn, Doris Day and, of course, The Andrews Sisters. Do you remember them? ‘Bei mir bist du schon’, ‘Rum and coca cola’, ‘Those were the days’ and of course ‘We'll meet again’!Thanks to their beautiful three-part vocals, swinging dance moves and stylish outfits, The Forces Sweethearts will make this performance a feast of recognition and allow us to reflect together on this special milestone.

Theatreconcert 'We'll meet again' - 80 years freedom

Quiz sur la thématique de la Bataille des Ardennes, animé par Christian Dujardin - dans le cadre du 80ème anniversaire de la Bataille des ArdennesLieu : Salle de Village de Mont (Houffalize)

Belgium 

Quiz sur la Bataille des Ardennes

Half-marathon across both banks of the Meuse between the bridges at Grave and Heumen, which were of great importance during World War II. Entry fee: €15.00.

Bridge2Bridgerun

Around 5pm on Christmas Eve, all the lights will be up and lit. From then until Boxing Day, the lights will be on and the cemeteries will be open to the public.

Evening of lights

Op vrijdag 13 december 2024, ook wel Paarse Vrijdag genoemd, vertoont het Vrijheidsmuseum twee documentaires over&nbsp;cellist en dirigent Frieda Belinfante (lesbienne) en kunstenaar Willem Arondéus (openlijk homoseksueel) die beiden als verzetsstrijders betrokken waren bij een aanslag op het bevolkingsregister in Amsterdam in maart 1943. De aanslag was succesvol, maar enkele dagen later werd Willem Arondéus opgepakt en geëxecuteerd. Frieda Belinfante lukte het om onder te duiken en naar Zwitserland te vluchten, waar ze de oorlog overleefde.&nbsp;&nbsp;‘Na het feest zonder afscheid verdwenen’ over Willem Arondéus kreeg een eervolle vermelding door de prestigieuze Nipkowjury en ‘…maar ik was een meisje’ over Frieda Belinfante was winnaar was van de Academy Award Nederland in de categorie Cultuur. Beide documentaires zijn gemaakt door radio- en tv-journalist Toni Boumans, die op deze dag aanwezig zal zijn om een korte inleiding te geven.&nbsp;Vanaf 19:00 zijn de deuren van het Vrijheidsmuseum geopend en om 19:30 begint de vertoning met een korte inleiding door Toni Boumans. Het duurt tot ca 22.00 uur. Het bijwonen van de vertoning kost € 8,- per persoon. Reserveren is noodzakelijk en kan uiterlijk 11 december via 024-3974404 of via <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:welkom@vrijheidsmuseum.nl">welkom@vrijheidsmuseum.nl</a>. De Museumkaart is geldig. De tijdelijke tentoonstelling Liefde in Oorlogstijd is tijdens het avondprogramma gesloten maar is nog te bezoeken onder openingstijden t/m 30 maart 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Martin tower Liberation routes

Theatre concert 'We'll meet again'- 80 years freedom

Theatre concert 'We'll meet again' - 80 years freedom

Theatreconcert 'We'll meet again' - 80 years freedom

Quiz sur la Bataille des Ardennes

Bridge2Bridgerun

Evening of lights

LHBT-verzetsstrijders in de spotlight

Register your event on Europe Remembers

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Country

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Martin tower Liberation routes

Theatre concert 'We'll meet again'- 80 years freedom

Theatre concert 'We'll meet again' - 80 years freedom

Theatreconcert 'We'll meet again' - 80 years freedom

Quiz sur la Bataille des Ardennes

Bridge2Bridgerun

Evening of lights

LHBT-verzetsstrijders in de spotlight

Register your event on Europe Remembers