Canadian War Memorials Near Amsterdam

Good afternoon,

My parents and I will be staying in Amsterdam for three days pre- and one day post-cruise this coming summer and are wondering if anyone has any experience visiting Canadian war memorials near the city. I have had the opportunity to visit war memorials in Germany and Thailand but my parents have not and both want to experience for themselves what it's like to walk among the graves of fallen soldiers.

From what I understand, Groesbeek is the largest Canadian memorial (or has the largest number of Canadian soldiers) and is about 130 km from Amsterdam. Is this memorial easy to get to? Would renting a car for the day be the best way to visit? How easy is it to rent a car for the day? Should we rent from a central location or Schipol? Are there any memorials that are closer to the city that we should consider?

Thanks in advance for giving any advice you can!

Jessica

Indeed Groesbeek comes to my mind too. According Wikipedia there are 2 more, but all of them are outside of Amsterdam. I am not sure if renting a car is an option, unless you are used to busy hectic traffic, crowded roads around Amsterdam. About 1 hour outside Amsterdam it will be a slightly better. Public transfer is very good in The Netherlands, but it takes time to get to Groesbeek. As an exemple going from Amsterdam Centraal station to Groesbeek, according ov9292.nl: http://9292.nl/en/journeyadvice/station-amsterdam-centraal/groesbeek_begraafplaats-canadese-oorlogsbegraafplaats/departure/2015-01-28T0908#

Maybe visiting one of the other smaller ones is easier. To find public transport you can use this site: http://9292.nl/en#

A bit more expensive, but many cruisers have used this private driver: http://dagtoertaxi.nl/services.html

Let me know if you need more information

Canadees Holten Canadian War Cemetery Holten 1393 Canadees Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery Bergen op Zoom 1118 Canadees Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery Groesbeek 2617

Avoid Amsterdam traffic, take a 1.5hr intercity train to Nijmegen and rent there (explore the Market Garden area) or cab/public transport to Groesbeek.

Mobile post. :)

Thank you so much for your replies! I would just like to ask one question for clarification: what makes the driving in and around Amsterdam so bad? We come from a city that, admittedly, has very little traffic but our drivers are among the worst in Canada. My dad is an excellent driver who does not get stressed out in driving situations at all. If we were to rent a car at Schipol and drive from there, would that make our task easier?

Also, if we wanted to add a concentration camp to our itinerary (I've been to Dachau but neither of my parents have ever been to a camp), is there one that's somewhat on the way or in the area? Do either of you have any experience with that?

The idea of renting a car in Nijmegen is indeed excellent. Re traffic in and around Amsterdam, expect delays due congestated roads, sometimes to a standstill. Many often impatient and rude other drivers for about 1 hour outside of Amsterdam. After that it might a bit better, but again the same on the return. Your father would also need a good GPS system and know where to go..

Parking in Groesbeek might not be a big problem, but in many other places it will. Parking is expensive, in some places only payable with a chip bank or creditcard. This apart from the gas which is also rather expensive.

By far not as impressive and little has been saved there is a small site of the camp in Amersfoort, which isnot that far from Amsterdam. Unfortunately the website in in dutch: http://www.kampamersfoort.nl/p/bezoek-aan-kamp-amersfoort

Openingstijden link gives the days and time visits can take place.

The bigger one Westerbork is farther out of the way.

Of course also interesting is a visit to the Anne Frankhuis in Amsterdam, but make reservations online in time. Lines can be very long.

see this website http://www.annefrank.org/en/Museum/

In Amsterdam itself also de Hollandse schouwburg has a lot of memories about the jews in Amsterdam during WW2. It was the places were jewish people were put together before their onward transportation. http://www.hollandscheschouwburg.nl/en

Agree with Ine. Save the stress, it's your vacation. :)

I would not rent from Schiphol airport, getting there, standing in line, getting the car would almost cost you the same amount of time of the intercity train to Nijmegen. Car and train are both 1½ hr one way.

By train all of you can enjoy the trip, the scenery. Consider 1st class tickets if you are unsure about comfort. Seems there is a twice an hour direct train which will cost you about €37,- per person return trip 2nd class or, I've just found this: use the less known e-ticket "Groepsretour" (Group Return) for four people from anywhere to one set destination for €55,- with an add. €2,50 for any extra person. https://www.ns.nl/eticket/ticket?language=en

It seems there is an Hertz about 500m from the Nijmegen station.

Good afternoon,

 

My parents and I will be staying in Amsterdam for three days pre- and one day post-cruise this coming summer and are wondering if anyone has any experience visiting Canadian war memorials near the city. I have had the opportunity to visit war memorials in Germany and Thailand but my parents have not and both want to experience for themselves what it's like to walk among the graves of fallen soldiers.

 

From what I understand, Groesbeek is the largest Canadian memorial (or has the largest number of Canadian soldiers) and is about 130 km from Amsterdam. Is this memorial easy to get to? Would renting a car for the day be the best way to visit? How easy is it to rent a car for the day? Should we rent from a central location or Schipol? Are there any memorials that are closer to the city that we should consider?

 

Thanks in advance for giving any advice you can!

 

Jessica

I don't know if you have already made your trip, but either renting a car or taking the train and renting in Nijmegen should work. We rented a car at Schiphol Airport and drove to Nijmegen and Groesbeek. The countryside around Groesbeek is lovely. From Schiphol the traffic is not bad because it is on the outskirts of Amsterdam. I have been to the Canadian Cemetery in Groesbeek and it is spitting distance from the National Liberation Museum in Groesbeek which is dedicated to Operation Market Garden in WWII and worth the visit. http://www.bevrijdingsmuseum.nl/basis.aspx?Tid=746#.VZ8DL19Viko Coincidentally, the Canadian Cemetery is only a few hundred yards from where my uncle (S/Sgt David Rosenkrantz, 82d A/B, 504 PIR, H Company) was killed in WWII. You will need a GPS and good map when driving in the Netherlands. When you get off the main highways the street signs are hard to interpret because sometimes they are pointing to a town and not naming the street. Also, obey the speed limits. I got a photo ticket in Nijmegen. Good luck!