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18 September Foundation procession and remembrance

Eindhoven is the only city in Western Europe that has celebrated its freedom ever since 1945, and on the precise date that the city was liberated by British and American troops.

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By organising a torchlight procession – in which many cultural organisations and sports clubs in Eindhoven participate – the 18 September Foundation (Stichting 18 September) honours not only the many sacrifices that were made during the liberation of the city and its surroundings on 18 September 1944, but also makes young people particularly aware that freedom cannot be taken for granted. In the presence of numerous veterans and military vehicles, the liberation fire enters the city at the end of a long cycling and walking procession from the first French city to be liberated by the allies: Bayeux.

Particularly impressive
Eindhoven is the only city in Western Europe that has celebrated its freedom ever since 1945, and on the precise date that the city was liberated by British and American troops.  The paratroopers were airlifted into the city from the north, where the Museum Bevrijdende Vleugels (Wings of Liberation Museum…

By organising a torchlight procession – in which many cultural organisations and sports clubs in Eindhoven participate – the 18 September Foundation (Stichting 18 September) honours not only the many sacrifices that were made during the liberation of the city and its surroundings on 18 September 1944, but also makes young people particularly aware that freedom cannot be taken for granted. In the presence of numerous veterans and military vehicles, the liberation fire enters the city at the end of a long cycling and walking procession from the first French city to be liberated by the allies: Bayeux.

Particularly impressive
Eindhoven is the only city in Western Europe that has celebrated its freedom ever since 1945, and on the precise date that the city was liberated by British and American troops.  The paratroopers were airlifted into the city from the north, where the Museum Bevrijdende Vleugels (Wings of Liberation Museum) now stands, and here they met up with the ground forces who had come up from the south. The 650 kilometre long route which took the allied troops 105 days in 1944 is now retraced every year with a burning torch carried by cyclists and runners. During this procession they carry the liberation fire from Normandy to Eindhoven where it culminates in the highlight of the celebration: the arrival of the flame in the Town Hall Square (Stadhuisplein) under the watchful eyes of various military attachés, ambassadors and other dignitaries. It is an honour for many of them to be present, and for most of them it is particularly impressive: “I never realised that Eindhoven did so much for remembrance and timeliness.´

Remembrance in the neighbourhood

The Museum Bevrijdende Vleugels in Best is not far from Eindhoven, and is where you will find out so much about the many paratroopers who landed and who were crucial to the liberation of the southern part of the Netherlands. Slightly further north is Nationaal Monument Kamp Vught and the oldest museum in Western Europe dedicated to the Second World War, the Oorlogsmuseum (War Museum) in Overloon is located about 40 kilometres to the north. It’s therefore possible to combine attending this unique remembrance with a visit to one of these impressive locations.

Click here to take a 360 tour.

Dates and times

  • Every year on the 18th of september at 20:00

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