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Parkhotel Tjaarda - Comfort plus kamer
Parkhotel Tjaarda - Comfort plus kamer
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Bravoure
Bravoure
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Restaurant Het Spijshuys
Restaurant Het Spijshuys
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Restaurant HANA
Restaurant HANA
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Huize Goede Reede - Appartement met balkon
Huize Goede Reede - Appartement met balkon
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Landal Waterpark Terherne
Landal Waterpark Terherne
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Aquacamping en Jachthaven De Rakken
Aquacamping en Jachthaven De Rakken
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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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Strand aan het Tjeukemeer
Strand aan het Tjeukemeer
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Appartementenboerderij De Gelukskever - Groepsaccommodatie 26 personen
Appartementenboerderij De Gelukskever - Groepsaccommodatie 26 personen
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Wier
Wier
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IJlst (Drylts)
IJlst (Drylts)
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Jachtwerf Hemmes Molenaar / J.M. Yachting
Jachtwerf Hemmes Molenaar / J.M. Yachting
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Simmermoarn boattours
Simmermoarn boattours
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Camping Elfbergen
Camping Elfbergen
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Fisherman's monument Wierum
Fisherman's monument Wierum
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Hein Mader Sculptures
Hein Mader Sculptures
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Nature Centre and barefoot path
Nature Centre and barefoot path
Sustainability info
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De Ried
De Ried
The Ried tells the story of Frisian water management: from an inland lake to a drainage channel. Along the waterway lie ancient terps, bearing witness to the long history of settlement in this region.
In the 17th century, the Ried area was transformed through the construction of ditches and a new drainage channel, creating the present-day Ried. Small polders were established along the waterway, draining excess water into the Ried. Today, this waterway forms part of the skating route of the Elfstedentocht, where it is known as one of the more challenging sections.
South of the Ried lies an area with several historic terps. Although many of these dwelling mounds have partly disappeared due to excavation and land consolidation, the area remains archaeologically valuable. There are also stories about possible ley lines that are believed by some to connect this location with other remarkable historic sites.
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Sudergemaal Pumping Station
Sudergemaal Pumping Station
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Galerie Peter Bax
Galerie Peter Bax
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Camping Mounewetter - Camperplaats
Camping Mounewetter - Camperplaats
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Organic food store 'De Eerlijkheid'
Organic food store 'De Eerlijkheid'
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Watervillapark Idskenhuizen - Singelier
Watervillapark Idskenhuizen - Singelier
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