Travel Tips

Every first Saturday of September in Oosterbeek the "Airborne-wandeltocht" (march) is held as a commemoration to the hero's that fought in the Battle of Arnhem. This is the largest attended one-day march in the world and every year more then 30.000 people from the nieghborhood as well as far away, walk the distances of 10, 15, 25 or 40 kilometres.

With so many visitors Oosterbeek is always suddenly on the map. The commemorations in Arnhem are always around the 17th, when the battle really took place and have a much soberder character. Not many veterans are still there, but they are always welcomed back and cheered upon, as the hero's they are.

The Oosterbeek foresty surroundings are a natural invitation to walk. The Airborne march is also benefitting from this, though one should during the march also take in mind what tragedy took place here.
Not one shall be forgotten!

In front of the hotel Hartenstein, where in September 1944 Urquhart set up his headquarters, the mayor of Oosterbeek together with some prominent people, take the "defilé". This is an official greeting of the passing people.

At the Southrim of Oosterbeek, near the river Rhine, one passes the little church where many wounded soldiers found their shelter. In and around the church one finds the proove of the heavy combat that was here. Pieces of granate and bullets in the walls as well as all kind of damage.

For me it was already the 21st time that I walked the Airborne-march, but this time I was just so happy and proud to take my boy along on the 10 kilometres (shortest distance) for the first time. Even more proud I was when we finished and Ilja himself walked around 5 kilometres! A great achievement for a boy not even two years old! Ilja was very happy with his medaille and was showing off to everyone later on.