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Buitenhuis Zonneroos - Groepsaccommodatie Zonneroos
Buitenhuis Zonneroos - Groepsaccommodatie Zonneroos
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Schreiershoek recreation and vacation park
Schreiershoek recreation and vacation park
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De Kan Hoeve - Vakantiehuisje 2
De Kan Hoeve - Vakantiehuisje 2
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Oostmahorn (De Skâns)
Oostmahorn (De Skâns)
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Municipality Balk
Municipality Balk
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Klein Humalda
Klein Humalda
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HarTeluk Joure - Tweepersoonskamer Standaard Plus
HarTeluk Joure - Tweepersoonskamer Standaard Plus
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Van der Valk Hotel Hurdegaryp
Van der Valk Hotel Hurdegaryp
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Sail Charter Friesland
Sail Charter Friesland
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Strandhotel Vigilante - Standaard Landzicht
Strandhotel Vigilante - Standaard Landzicht
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't Golfje
't Golfje
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Bed & Breakfast ByPaula - Kamer Hr-Pastoor
Bed & Breakfast ByPaula - Kamer Hr-Pastoor
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Familieboten - Saga 27 AC
Familieboten - Saga 27 AC
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Groepsaccommodatie 'Boerderij'
Groepsaccommodatie 'Boerderij'
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Hanse 348
Hanse 348
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Mata Hari birth house
Mata Hari birth house
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Memorial stone for Fallen Canadians
Memorial stone for Fallen Canadians
Sunday 15 April 1945, Friesland's official liberation day, was also the day Sneek welcomed the Canadian liberation forces. It had been an exciting day, and the Dutch Domestic Armed Forces (NBS) had fought quite a battle with the occupiers.
A day earlier, German troops had begun to withdraw from Sneek and the NBS had tried to hinder their retreat along the Leeuwarderweg as much as possible. Until a column of German parachute troops had entered the fray and forced the NBS to retreat.
The Waag building in the middle of the city centre was used as a weapons cache by the occupying forces during the war. To prevent it from falling into Allied hands, the fleeing troops set it on fire at around three o'clock on Sunday. Loud explosions and bangs resounded throughout the city for half an hour.
Once the enemy had left the city, the NBS operatives gathered at the HBS school for instructions and the distribution of weapons and armbands. They went into the city to round up traitors. Then, rumour had it that hundreds of German soldiers were on their way to Sneek from Lemmer. Immediately, fortifications were built at the Water gate.
Canadian units were alerted. They were now in possession of the latest defence plans for Sneek thanks to NBS intelligence and were advancing from Joure towards the town.
In the evening around half past seven, the first patrol of the Canadian infantry battalion Le régiment De La Chaudière rode into town with flame-throwers and machine guns. The German troops stayed away, and the full Canadian battalion followed.
Sneek was liberated, but freedom was not yet guaranteed as German troops tried to escape via the Afsluitdijk towards Friesland. The Canadian Regiment of the Queens Own Rifles moved through Sneek to the Afsluitdijk and fiercely fought at Wons. Six Canadian soldiers were killed. They were temporarily buried at Sneek General Cemetery. In 1946, they were reburied at the Canadian Field of Honour in Holten.
Canadian guests
While waiting to return to their homeland, hundreds of Canadian soldiers were lodged with families in Sneek for about five months. On 1 June, the Perth Regiment arrived in the town, which they temporarily renamed Stratford. They were involved in the liberation of Groningen. A committee was set up to entertain the soldiers with various activities. From dances to sailing competitions and special church services.Cordial ties developed between the liberators and the people of Sneek. And sometimes more than that. For Gordon C. Compton and Atty Bouma, one could even speak of "love at first sight". When the last soldiers return home at the end of November, Gordon decided to stay in the Netherlands. On 9 May 1946, he married Atty in Sneek. Not long after, Gordon and his "war bride" left for Canada.
Several monuments in the city recall the special bond with the Canadian military, which remains very close to this day.
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Mem Wedman Hiking Trail
Mem Wedman Hiking Trail
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Beach Resorts Makkum - Beachvilla XL
Beach Resorts Makkum - Beachvilla XL
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it Dreamlân nature campsite
it Dreamlân nature campsite
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Wolkom Thús
Wolkom Thús
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Bij de Genieterij
Bij de Genieterij
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Sacrifice for freedom
Sacrifice for freedom
Near the crash site, the "Monument to Allied Airmen" was unveiled by the sister of one of the crew members in 2004 as a tribute to the fallen crew. A boulder with a plaque and a panel with background information on what happened keep the memory alive.
Of seven soldiers killed, five were British, one Canadian and one Australian. They were buried side by side. Identical white natural stone tombstones with an embossed emblem and cross have been placed at each grave. The cross is not only a symbol of the Christian faith, but also a reminder of the sacrifice made by war victims for a life of freedom.
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Drama in Marnezijl
Drama in Marnezijl
