The Final Push: Holland, 27 March-12 April 2015

[Hanno Spoelstra]

3rd stage: Delden

Friday April 3rd 2015: (Good Friday)
TFP Breakfast.
Resting day for the participants with their vehicles. Opening of Porter Field, the airstrip at Twickel under the interest of invited guests. Arrival of WW2 planes. Offical permission received. Pipes & Drums City of Apeldoorn in the bivouac. Special guest will be Mr. Porter a veteran.
Visit of schoolchildren and residents. The arrival of more vehicles and participants.
In the evening entertainment at De Wendezoele, live music.

Saturday April 4th 2015:
TFP Breakfast.
“Delden back to Then” (April 1945) starts. Liberation tour Delden – Zenderen – Hertme – Borne – Delden Centrum – Delden Twickel. Festive entry through Azelo, commemoration at the monument Vloedbelt, wrath laying in Hertme and lunch. Large march-past through Borne, including Poppy dropping by WW2 Recon planes (only by good weather).Festivities and speech by Mayor.
Visit to the bivouac open for public. Shows of Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten / Dames en Heren van Toen / Prinses Irene Brigade(?) / Canadian re-enacters. A steam train shuttles between Hengelo and Delden (maybe Goor also)back and forth. Grand party night at ‘t Hoogspel with Big band music (De Zendmasters). Dress contest for Ladies and Gentlemen in uniform and civil WW2 clothing.

Sunday April 5th 2015: (Easter Sunday)
TFP Breakfast.
2nd day of “Delden back to Then” (April 1945). Tour to Almelo passing through Bornerbroek for a commemoration and festivities in the centre. On the way back stop at Tusveld for a reception and a hot lunch. Commemorating of the crossing the Twente canal by Canadian troops at the Torendijk. Amphibian attack by Canadian re-enactors . Specific vehicles will be lined up along the canal south side. All other vehicles line up on Kanaaldijk north side.
Amphibian vehicles can enter the canal at TWV in Hengelo. A lot of national and international guests expected. A local committee takes care of facilities like a tent and sound gear.
A steam train shuttles between Hengelo and Delden (maybe Goor also)back and forth.
Visit to the bivouac open for public. Shows of Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten / Dames en Heren van Toen / Prinses Irene Brigade(?)/ Canadian re-enactors.
Liberation party evening at “De Weijenborg” for participants and locals.

Monday April 6th 2015: (Easter Monday)
TFP Breakfast.
3rd day of “Delden back to Then” (April 1945). A steam train shuttles between Hengelo and Delden (maybe Goor also) back and forth. Long Liberation tour to Oldenzaal (Opening of Memorial garden WW2). Canadian re-enactors will enter the town first followed by music. Line up in narrow streets around and on the market square. Hot lunch.
Shows of Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten / Dames en Heren van Toen / Prinses Irene Brigade / Canadian re-enactors. interconfessional service at the Oude Blasius Kerk in Delden, starting 17.00 hours. A pastor and an army chaplain have been arranged.
Liberty concert at night around Castle Twickel with artists, band, WW2 searchlights (V sign) and sirens. Participants follow the music band from the bivaouc. Visitors will enter through the tunnel and along the Castle to our location.

Tuesday April 7th 2015:
TFP Breakfast.
Resting day and the visit of schoolchildren to the bivouac. Wreath laying at the Algemene begraafplaats in Delden with a small group.

Wednesday April 8th 2015:
TFP Breakfast.
Liberation tours to Holten, commemoration& wreath laying at the Canadian War Cemetery.
Schoolchildren will lift with our vehicles from Holten to the War Cemetery. Commemoration and short lunch with hot food in Markelo. Passing of some bomber crash sites. Static show in Goor in front of the town hall, remembering the casualties of war including the Polish liberators. KTR will present a remembrance stone for the Polish Liberators. The Polish ambassador has been invited.
A refueling stop is planned leaving town. A wreath laying at the KTR monument Delden (Wiene)
Location of WW2 spot crossing the Twente canal by Canadian troops.

Thursday April 9th 2015:
TFP Breakfast.
Long Liberation tour from Delden, via Enter (coffee stop and commemoration)to Nijverdal, where a commemoration will take place at the Memory International War Museum and a Mock battle around the N35 bridge, lunch. Continuing to Ommen and Balkbrug. Staying the night with residents in their houses or gardens like the Canadians did in 1945. Party night and hot meal.

Route Delden - Balkbrug

[Hanno Spoelstra]

4th stage: Balkbrug

Friday April 10th 2015:
TFP Breakfast.
Departure from Balkbrug, through Hoogeveen ( wreathlaying and parade) and Beilen to Westerbork remembrance centre. Impressive memorial with the attendance of former camp residents and around 800 schoolchildren. There will be displays on this former concentration camp. Various invited guests and a meeting with French veterans of Operation Amherst. During this tour there will be stops for commemorations.
Building of a bivouac in the centre village. A warm welcome by the Mayor and a hot meal. Party night with a show of Big band “De Zendmasters”

Route Balkbrug - Westerbork

[Hanno Spoelstra]

5th stage: Westerbork

Saturday April 11th 2015:
The Old Town hall will be disguised as a German HQ. A Dogfight and Air display will be held together with Paradropping from 4 C-130 Hercules planes. Parade through the village with all the vehicles along French and Canadian veterans. A Mock battle will be held at Badhuis.
At night a Liberation party in Westerbork village, with artists on the bivouac and the centre.

Sunday April 12th 2015:
End of bivouac Westerbork village and through Rolde, Assen, Vries(hot meal) and Eelde (parade like 1945) to the city park in Groningen. Building the final bivouac. During this tour commemorating stops will be held. Mock battles and a large parade entering the city of Groningen to de Grote Markt / Vis Markt where a tank battle will be held. A march-past through Groningen ends a fantastic event!

Bivouac until Monday morning in the Groningen city park.

Route Westerbork - Groningen

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Sunday April 5th 2015: (Easter Sunday)
Commemorating of the crossing the Twente canal by Canadian troops at the Torendijk. Amphibian attack by Canadian re-enactors . Specific vehicles will be lined up along the canal south side. All other vehicles line up on Kanaaldijk north side.
Amphibian vehicles can enter the canal at TWV in Hengelo. A lot of national and international guests expected.

Great video of the reenactment of the canal crossing: https://youtu.be/7SrKbGas_VQ

The Canadian military were present in the form of RCA troops. I pointed out to them that the truck I was driving was "Made in Canada", much to their surprise.

H.