Arnhem during the war.
sunday august 30 there is a big event in arnhem, Living statues. It is always busy that day, but very very nice to see!
This year is the 65th remembrance of the battle of Arnhem. It wil be held from 17th sept. until the 21th of september. For a lot of Old Soldiers this will be the last time they are able to visit arnhem. So if you are interested in history this is a very nice moment to visit Arnhem. (i will update when i hear how the programm is) "Lest we forget". (the hotels in the neighborhoud are fully booked)
In 1935 the bridge over the Rijn was finished. But in 1940 already destroyed by the German army. During the war it was rebuild again. This was a very important bridge in Arnhem it is called the John Frostbridge. This bridge was the centre of a the big battle.
D-Day. June 6 1944. The allied millitary force landed on the coastline of Normandie in France. In a fast tempo they conquered France and Belgium. In the early day's of september they reached the dutch border. They wanted to take Germany in a fast way. So they made a provocative plan. Through Brabant en Limburg they would march quickly to Nijmegen and Arnhem. They thought when we have conquered Arnhem we can easily reach Germany, to the main goal the industrial area of germany (ruhrgebied).
The part Market (markt) was meant for the airbornelanding. They had to conquer several rivers and bridges. Eindhoven, Nijmegen and Arnhem. The groundforces had to move with their tank and artillery as quick as possibel to the North. This is the part Garden (tuin).
The memorial day was 17 september 1944, from airports from England more than two thousend planes took off. Not only paratroopers but also cars and light artillery were send to Holland. A big part of those planes flew in the direction of Arnhem. Just after noon the first British para's landed on the moor near Heelsum, Wolfheze and Ede. (these people where called "the red devils".
From the place where the troops landed they walked as soon as possible to the Rijnbrug (bridge) in Arnhem. The closer they got to Arnhem the heavier the resistance from the Germans was. Just one battalion under command from Lieutenant-colonel John Frost was able to reach the bridge. They could not do that alone but there was no reinforcement. John Frost was able to maintain for four days. But no help came. He had to surrender. A great number of his man died. The Bridge in Arnhem was One Bridge Too Far!!
What reminded me was that the movie A bridge too far was shoot at the bridge in Deventer. This bridge looked a bit similar to the John Frost bridge, but in deventer they were able to build houses near the bridge.
A lot of people are curious about the name of the second bridge. The nelson Mandela bridge. There is not much information to tell you about the name. The bridge used to name Roermondsplein bridge. In the 1994 they simply changed the name.
There is a possiblity that there will be build a new bridge, because the Schuytgraaf is expanding very much. There are always trafficjams. A proposal for a new name is Stanislaw Sosabowski commander of the first Polish independant para troops.
And a quit new bridge, connecting Presikhaaf to Arnhem south. This bridge is called the Andrej Sacharov bridge. A russian Nobel price winner.
If you are interested in more history and you want to know more about market garden, than this is the link to it! http://www.market-garden.com/2010/UK/page1.html
I just found a wonderful website of arnhem with all kinds of video's to get a real good impression of the things you would like to visit. www.arnhemfan.nl
If you are interested in history and the second world war The Airborne Museum Hartenstein is a nice option.
It is located Utrechtseweg 232, 6862 AZ Oosterbeek. telephone number: 026-3337710 www.airbornemuseum.nl Openingshours: april until oktober monday until saturday 10.00-17.00 hour. november until march 11.00-17.00 hour. On sundays and special days from 12.00-17.00 hour. Exept the first of january and 25 december. Price is 5,50 Euro. The museum is in a renovation at the moment, but the reopening wil be 28 august 2009.
For those who are really interested in air pictures of Arnhem during the war: The RAF took those pictures and they are putting them online in a few days. www.aerial.rcahms.gov.uk .
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And of course the animals, i think almost every specie is present. What also is very nice if you have little children. The big playground!!
The house was a gift from King Willem III in 1859. It was opened in 1863.
Most of the sculptures remember the victems of the Japanese occupation and captivity in the former Dutch East Indies.
Something special is the "Blue Room". The room was furnished with gifts from the Japanese Emperor to King Willem III.
There are several cannons, you will see how big they are! And many more militairy equipment.
The museum is open on Tuesday until Sunday. The openinghours are: 10.00-17.00 hour. Don't let the sign at the entrance frighten you, you are allowed to walk there!
In the summer it is always very busy! But that's not strange, the location is perfect and the food is very good!
Suggestion: If you visit the War museum, this is also located in this street (if you walk under the bridge, the museum is on your right hand) the restaurant is a bit further on the left side of the road.
The restaurant is closed on Monday and special celebration days. The restaurant is open until 20.00 hour.
For individual persons the Wine museum is open from Tuesday until Friday from 14.00 - 17.00 hour.
Every Saturday from 11.00 - 17.00 hour.
If you just want to buy wine: Monday until Friday from 10.00 - 18.00 hour
Saturday from 10.00 - 17.00 hour.
The Saturday taste of wine starts at 13.30 hour. The second one starts at 15.00 hour.
This wil cost 10 € Maximum number of participants is 6.
Just visiting the museum is 4 €
If you want something more exclusive for 2 persons, You can book the special Deguston arrangement.
This is on an Saturday and starts at 10.00 until 13.00 hour. When you arrive you wil be welcomed with a cup of coffee or tea. Than you wil visit the wine cellars and you are going to taste 5 different varieties of wines. You are also told and learned about the technics how to taste wine. But this is an expensive one. It is 25€ per person.
If you want to take a souvenir home, or just to drink in your hotel or hostel, there is a museum wine for 4,75€ available.
If you are interested in history of "old" houses and living in holland. Google streetview is recording now. So in a short while you are able to visit the open air museum by google!
Today in the newspaper there was an announcement what they will show the visitors in the winter.
This will be shown from 5 december until 17 January. Inhibitants of the historic farmhouses will show you how they survived the very cold winters when there were not alot jobs and their houses stayed cold. They will also show the life of the rich people in the winter, with hotchpotch and special new Years meals, this is what you can expect this short period.(2009/2010)
On the skating track visitors can feel the historic life, with "koek and zopie" (most choclat milk or aniseed milk and cake.
The open air museum takes you back in time. You will see several houses they rebuild in this museum.
Here they show you how you can make paper. You will see a farm from Staphorst from the 1880 in this house they lived with eight children. And of course the Zaanse schans! If you want something to snack, there is some old fashioned candy that you can buy.
What rather new is in the openlucht museum, is HollandRama. This is very special attraction.
It is a capsule with is fixed to an arm. This arm wil lift up the capsule, and therefore it can turn 355 degrees. It also reaches a hight from 7,5 meter. It is connected to rails on the floor so you will be able to see a lot of panorama's.
This is realy new and special. The only problem is, people who are disabled can't visit the Hollandrama.
In the winter it is possible to visit the park,(until 5 december, than they make arrangements for Winter in the openair museum) but not the houses. Those are closed.
In december there is a skating rink in front of the restaurant. This is very nice. (if you are lucky and it is cold and there is snow, it is so very beautiful in this park)
For the park only, you pay 4€ and for the parking of your car 1,50€. I really do not know the prices for the next year.
At 1 april the parc will be open again, including the houses.
Openings hours 10.00-17.00.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odH36Vyo3do
If you cross the street, and go left and then immediately turn right, now you are in the Bentinckstraat. Also a street which has little shops. Like the famous jewelry shop Alexander. Than you will reach the Bakkerstraat. If you turn right, you will seen on your left hand the Begijnenpassage. Here you will find a nice shop which sells almost everything from England.
When you are in front of the Beijenkorf, you can take the small road on the left (zwanestraat) and there are more special shops. But you are warned! They are expensive. But it is nice to walk in those stores and have a look. The most shops are located in very old buildings.
Arnhem is a city to discover! Have a nice shopping day!
And some news, Arnhem is selected as the most "green" city in Holland. This means Arnhem can participate in the European Entente Florale this year.
