Before the Liberation, large groups of German soldiers left Friesland. With carts, bicycles and a lot of stuff it was a real exodus. It was not always clear to the Germans where to go.
Some German soldiers thought they had to go to Harlingen to hold the port there. Others thought they had to go to the top of North Holland to resist the English army. It was one big chaos and the inhabitants of Bolsward noticed that too.
To delay the Allied advance, several bridges were blown up. The retreating Germans blew up the Blauwpoortsbrug on April 15, 1945. This posed no major problem for the liberators who were able to enter Bolsward the next day without German resistance.
The residents of Bolsward took to the streets to welcome the Canadians of the 13th Canadian Field Artillery Regiment. The Canadians handed out free chocolate and cigarettes, finally the occupation of Bolsward is over. The Blauwepoortsbrug was restored on April 15, 1946. The plaque on the outer wall of the bridge keeper's house reminds of the destruction of the bridge
