Walking route 1: Bergeijk – Waalre | Liberation Route Brabant

Walk in the liberators’ footsteps around Bergeijk and Waalre.

( 5 hour 45 minutes) 26.0 km

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This 26km section will take you along the first section of the route taken by the liberators on Dutch soil. The Liberation Route Brabant tells the story of the liberation, but also recounts what the Second World War meant to everyday Brabant folk. The total route is 125 kilometres long and is divided into five sections. The route passes along the Airborne Footpath which tells the story of Operation Market Garden. Roads and bridges had to be captured to circumvent the Siegfried Line via Arnhem to enable the Allied forces to advance on Berlin.

The route takes you past historic locations which are typified by courage, sorrow, fear and hope. Soldiers, local inhabitants, refugees and occupying forces saw their lives change here. You can only imagine what happened during the war in North Brabant and especially in these places.

About this route
This walking route has been created by VisitBrabant Routebureau in association with Brabant Remembers. The route …

About this route
This walking route has been created by VisitBrabant Routebureau in association with Brabant Remembers. The route is marked out using the Brabant numbered junction system. Simply walk from one numbered junction to the next. The route between the junctions is marked by arrows. If there is anything wrong with the signposting along this route, please report this on visitbrabant.com/meldpunt You can also call us on +31(0)800 4050050.

Route map
You can view this route page on your telephone or download the GPX file. If you prefer to go on the walk using a paper map, you can order one in our webshop.

Walking in the liberators’ tracks.
The Liberation Route Brabant tells the story of the liberation, but also recounts what the Second World War meant to everyday Brabant folk. View all the other Liberation cycle and walking routes here.

Liberation Route Brabant direction signs

Follow the 'Liberation Route' signs. These are hanging under the regular junction signs.

Hotline routes
Hotline routes
If there is something wrong on the route, report it here.

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Sights on this route

Poort der Bevrijding (Liberation Gate)

The Bergeijk Liberation Gate Monument is located at De Barrier border crossing where the first liberators passed through on 11 September 1944.

Luisterzuil - In een hinderlaag

Luisterzuil met het verhaal over het Britse legerkorps dat een hinderlaag inreed.

Jullie zijn vrij

"De Tommy's staan bij de Bergeijkse Barrière!". Het nieuws verspreidt zich snel door het dorp. Ook de 54-jarige Jan Maas hoort het.

Vliegramp in Bergeijk

Op de Borkelsedijk in Bergeijk stortte op 22 juni 1943 een Wellington HZ520 neer. Deze Britse bommenwerper was onderweg om de Duitse stad Krefeld te bombarderen toen het rond 01.20 uur op de heenweg door geschut werd getroffen.

Luisterzuil - Een biertje op de bevrijding

Al op 11 september zijn er Britse verkenners in de buurt. Ze racen door het Brabantse landschap in snelle wagens, met als taak in te schatten of de brug over de Dommel tanks kan dragen.

Brits Militair kerkhof

Valkenswaard was de eerste Nederlandse gemeente die door Britse troepen werd bevrijd tijdens Operatie Market Garden.

Pannenkoekenhuis " de familie Suykerbuyck"

Speciaal voor de kinderen hebben ze een prachtige speeltuin en is er naast het pannenkoekenhuis een aanlegplaats voor paarden.

Luisterzuil - Een fataal oponthoud

Valkenswaard wordt op 17 september bevrijd. Het dorp heeft onder de geallieerde beschietingen en luchtaanvallen veel te lijden gehad.

End point:

Waypoint walk 79
Waalre
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Walking stage 2 : Pelt - Dommelen | The Dommelpad Watermill Route
Walking stage 2 : Pelt - Dommelen | The Dommelpad Watermill Route
( 5 hour 6 minutes) 23.0 km

Walk from Pelt - Dommelen on this watermill stage of the Dommelpad.
Walking stage 5 : Dommelen - Pelt | The Dommelpad Nature Route
Walking stage 5 : Dommelen - Pelt | The Dommelpad Nature Route
( 5 hour 6 minutes) 23.0 km

Walk from Dommelen to Pelt on this countryside stage of the Dommelpad.
Monastery Walk in De Groote Heide
Monastery Walk in De Groote Heide
( 2 hour 30 minutes) 11.2 km

This monastery walk will allow you to discover the beautiful countryside around the Achelse Kluis in Hamont-Achel in De Groote Heide heathland.
Walking stage 1 : Peer - Pelt | The Dommelpad Watermill Route
Walking stage 1 : Peer - Pelt | The Dommelpad Watermill Route
( 5 hour) 22.5 km

Walk from Peer to Pelt on this watermill stage of the Dommelpad.
Walking stage 6 : Pelt - Peer | The Dommelpad Nature Route
Walking stage 6 : Pelt - Peer | The Dommelpad Nature Route
( 5 hour) 22.5 km

Walk from Pelt to Peer on this countryside stage of the Dommelpad.
Walking stage 3 : Dommelen - Eindhoven | The Dommelpad Watermill Route
Walking stage 3 : Dommelen - Eindhoven | The Dommelpad Watermill Route
( 3 hour 54 minutes) 17.6 km

Walk from Dommelen to Eindhoven on this watermill stage of the Dommelpad.
Walking stage 4 : Eindhoven - Dommelen | The Dommelpad Nature Route
Walking stage 4 : Eindhoven - Dommelen | The Dommelpad Nature Route
( 3 hour 54 minutes) 17.6 km

Walk from Eindhoven to Dommelen on this countryside stage of the Dommelpad.

Liberation route Bergen op Zoom
Liberation route Bergen op Zoom
( 3 hour 20 minutes) 40.0 km

On this route, you will cycle through the landscape of the Battle of the Scheldt. The rolling hills separated the water-rich Zeeland from Brabant,...
Walking route 03 : Steenbergen - Willemstad | The Canadian liberation route
Walking route 03 : Steenbergen - Willemstad | The Canadian liberation route
( 5 hour 44 minutes) 25.1 km

Discover how Dinteloord paid a heavy toll for freedom one day before the liberation.
Liberation route Gilze Rijen
Liberation route Gilze Rijen
( 3 hour 30 minutes) 42.0 km

Even today, Gilze-Rijen is dominated by flying and by planes. Immediately after the occupation, in May 1940, the Germans expanded the existing airp...
Walking route 01: Woensdrecht - Bergen op Zoom | The Canadian liberation route
Walking route 01: Woensdrecht - Bergen op Zoom | The Canadian liberation route
( 5 hour 50 minutes) 25.5 km

Follow the first part of the route that the Canadian liberators took in the Netherlands.
Walking route 02: Bergen op Zoom - Steenbergen | The Canadian liberation route
Walking route 02: Bergen op Zoom - Steenbergen | The Canadian liberation route
( 4 hour 38 minutes) 20.3 km

Walk past a Canadian military cemetery and several liberation monuments.
Walking route 06 : Lage Zwaluwe - Geertruidenberg | The Canadian liberation route
Walking route 06 : Lage Zwaluwe - Geertruidenberg | The Canadian liberation route
( 4 hour 56 minutes) 21.6 km

Walk along the water in De Biesbosch National Park, where resistance fighters secretly crossed the water.
Walking route 08 : Sprang-Capelle - Udenhout | The Canadian liberation route
Walking route 08 : Sprang-Capelle - Udenhout | The Canadian liberation route
( 6 hour 24 minutes) 28.0 km

Walk through the Loon and Drunen Dunes and pass three unique liberation locations.
Walking route 4: Sint-Oedenrode – Uden | Liberation Route Brabant
Walking route 4: Sint-Oedenrode – Uden | Liberation Route Brabant
( 5 hour 5 minutes) 23.0 km

Follow the Hell’s Highway route between Sint-Oedenrode and Uden
Walking route 3: Son en Breugel – Sint-Oedenrode | Liberation Route Brabant
Walking route 3: Son en Breugel – Sint-Oedenrode | Liberation Route Brabant
( 5 hour 35 minutes) 25.0 km

Discover the area around Son en Breugel and Sint-Oedenrode where the Americans landed.
Liberation route Asten
Liberation route Asten
( 3 hour 55 minutes) 47.0 km

While cycling this route you will be confronted with great deeds, but also with the atrocities of war. You will pass through the area that the Alli...