"The place where I am enjoying my work " a Oosterbeek Travel Page by Pavlik_NL

Just West in the outskirts of Arnhem lies Oosterbeek. An almost to be called aristocratic little town with a very specific surrounding. Situated partly on the Northern bank of the river Rhine ("Beneden-dorp" = Lower village) and in the by the enormous masses of ice pushed up, hills ("Boven-dorp" = Upper village). As peaceful it is now, so intens must have been the hell that it was in September 1944.

It was here that one of the biggest tragedies of the second worldwar took place. A daring plan, like so many before, made up to "bring the boys back home before Christmas" turned in to a massacre. For the people of nearby Arnhem as well as the citizens of Oosterbeek, it ended in a disaster. after a few days of so close liberty, the Nazi's took revenge and evactuated, plundered and burned down both towns. However, despite all the tears and pain, the citizens spread over Holland must have found new hope for the future.

In the Airborne-museum one can see everything from the Battle of Arnhem (a bridge too far), wchich actually took place in Oosterbeek, where the majority of British 1st airborne division (added by a Polish brigade) got stuck.

Oosterbeek was a place where the tragedy of the Battle of Arnhem actually took place. Here the main British force was battling towards the bridge that only few reached. The rest was fighting against a overwhelming force of much better armed Germany soldiers. Everything about this drama can be witnessed in the Airborne Museum.

Oosterbeek is also the place where my work is situated. That is, just 100 metres across the border with Arnhem in the estate-park of Mariendaal. This magnificent park will be virtually present in a travellogue.