Walking route 3: Son en Breugel – Sint-Oedenrode | Liberation Route Brabant

Discover the area around Son en Breugel and Sint-Oedenrode where the Americans landed.

5 hour 35 minutes (25.0 km)

Starting point: from your location


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Discover the area where the American 101st Airborne Division landed during the  Market Garden airborne operation. This 25km section will take you along the third part 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…

Discover the area where the American 101st Airborne Division landed during the  Market Garden airborne operation. This 25km section will take you along the third part 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 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.

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

Sights on this route

Starting point: Kanaaldijk Zuid
5691 NC Son
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62
A

After successfully dropping on the moors north of Son on Sunday September 17, American paratroopers immediately head towards the bridge over the Wilh1

The bridge or your life
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B

During Operation Market Garden, the sanatorium in Son en Breugel was used as a field hospital.

Sanatorium used as a field hospital
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The monument consists of four concrete columns, crowned with a statue of a pelican on its nest, with chicks.

Joe Mann Monument
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On 18 and 19 September 1944, unprecedented fierce fighting is raging in these woods.

Robert Cole and Joe Mann
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Lieutenant Cole led his battalion on 11 June 1944.

Robert Cole Monument
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On Sunday September 17, in three quarters of an hour, more than 4.500 paratroopers are dropped in this area.

Liberation from the air
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Things were tense around the village of Best from 18 September 1944 onwards. American soldiers were approaching from Eindhoven, German soldiers were1

A small shiny box
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On 19 September 1944, Son U.S. Military Cemetery was set up in Wolfswinkel.

Temporary war cemetery in Wolfswinkel
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During Operation Market Garden, the castle became General Taylor’s headquarters for the 101st Airborne Division.

Henkenshage Castle
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This monument is located in the side wall of the former Sint-Oedenrode town hall. It was established in memory of the eleven paratroopers of the 101s1

Airborne Monument
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