Locations
1369 to 1392 of 2303 results
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Vakantiehuis Pondok
Vakantiehuis Pondok
Direct boekbaar
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Under de Wol
Under de Wol
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Heavy shelling on Pingjum
Heavy shelling on Pingjum
After the liberation of Sneek on April 15, 1945, Canadian troops advanced to the Afsluitdijk. The Frisian resistance advised against the attack. It remembered the May days at the beginning of the war in 1940.
After the Canadians had been festively welcomed in Leeuwaren, it was important to advance quickly to Franeker to prevent the last escape option of the Germans over the Afsluitdijk and the IJsselmeer. The attack against the Afsluitdijk was launched from the southeast on 16 April, but the tanks of the Queens Own Rifles soon ran into the strong German defenses.
After that, the village of Wons was surrounded, but the Germans defended themselves very fanatically at Pingjum. There were many snipers and the Canadians were fired on from the farms. Allied fighters and artillery were deployed to break the German resistance. During the shelling, five farms went up in flames, six civilians, one Canadian and 46 Germans were killed. On April 18, 1945, the Canadians were able to report that the entire area had been cleared of enemies.
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Oranjewoud Park Landscape
Oranjewoud Park Landscape
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Boutique Hotel Joure - DeLuxe kamer
Boutique Hotel Joure - DeLuxe kamer
Direct boekbaar
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Hobbe van Baerdt Church in Joure
Hobbe van Baerdt Church in Joure
Direct boekbaar
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Beach Resorts Makkum - Schakel 4 persoons
Beach Resorts Makkum - Schakel 4 persoons
Direct boekbaar
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Zijda Yachting / Marina Jirnsum
Zijda Yachting / Marina Jirnsum
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Façade stone wall
Façade stone wall
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Lunchroom Tramhalteplein
Lunchroom Tramhalteplein
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Natuurkampeerterrein minicamping Singel - Camperplaats groter dan 5m
Natuurkampeerterrein minicamping Singel - Camperplaats groter dan 5m
Direct boekbaar
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Nautica Yacht Charter
Nautica Yacht Charter
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Camping de Finne
Camping de Finne
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Bird-Watching Hut for Birds that Don’t Exist
Bird-Watching Hut for Birds that Don’t Exist
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B&B Pension Op 'e Koai - Treinkamer
B&B Pension Op 'e Koai - Treinkamer
Direct boekbaar
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Looper fietsen
Looper fietsen
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It Lytse Slot Manor
It Lytse Slot Manor
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Wellekom Watersport - Platbodem lemsteraak Manna
Wellekom Watersport - Platbodem lemsteraak Manna
Direct boekbaar
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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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ZenZi
ZenZi
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Beaches at Nieuwe Robbengat
Beaches at Nieuwe Robbengat
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Flietsterbosk Forest
Flietsterbosk Forest
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Sterlogies Leeuwarden
Sterlogies Leeuwarden
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Boutiquehotel & Grandcafé 't Gerecht - Classic Suite
Boutiquehotel & Grandcafé 't Gerecht - Classic Suite
Direct boekbaar
