AIRBORNEPATH MARKET GARDEN
From Lommel (Belgium) to Arnhem (The Netherlands) - 220 km
In the footsteps of our liberators September 1944, the AIRBORNEPATH was developed in 2004 by Walking Sports Association OLAT (www.olat.nl). It is described in the booklet AIRBORNEPAD - see picture - which is available at the Tourist Information Office in Eindhoven.
Sixty years (plus) after Operation Market Garden, the AIRBORNEPATH takes us through numerous areas which remind us of the allied march into occupied territory: small and large monuments, military cemetaries, war museums and all those bridges which took so much fighting to conquer. The path also creates pure enjoyment. It crosses through old farming landscapes, beautiful valleys, heather fields and dunes, wide river areas and forest. It leads past historic city beauty and industrial heritage.
In the footsteps of our liberators the views take on a different meaning.
The path starts in Belgium, in the town of Lommel where the British assembled a large army in September 1944:
XXXth
Corps
The
Dutch Prinses Irene Brigade was attached to this large army of
army of 50.000 men and 20.000 vehicles which was to march North to Arnhem in
The Netherlands using one road.
On 17th September 1944, paratroopers of the American 101st Airborne Division
jump on the
dropzones between Eindhoven and Veghel. The AIRBORNEPATH follows the footsteps
of these warriors via Son, Best, and Saint Oedenrode.
That same day, 17th September 1944, the area between Grave and Nijmegen is the
objective for the American 82nd Airborne Division. The AIRBORNEPATH leads via
Grave, Heumen, Groesbeek, Nijmegen and Oosterhout to Driel.
From Driel the AIRBORNEPATH follows the roads which the 1st Polish Parachute
Brigade and
the 1st British Airborne Division took, which, respectively, landed South and
North of Wolfheze on 17th September 1944.
The path ends in Arnhem - where the allied march was stopped. We invite you to walk the AIRBORNEPATH with us: in memory of those who fell, and in gratitude of our freedom.