The Battles for Antwerp

Local departure by coach, then to Antwerp in Belgium for a three-night stay.

We start on the coast opposite the Walcheren Island and see where the Canadians landed during Operation Switchback, a small ‘D-Day’ style landing that outflanked the German defenders. We see the landing beach and memorials and then cross to the Walcheren Island.

Here we visit the Zeeland Liberation Museum with its extensive collection and outdoor memorial park, which includes defences, bunkers, tanks and a Bailey Bridge.

After lunch in Middelburg, we look at the British landings on the Walcheren Island at Flushing and Westkapelle, seeing the memorials and the Sherman Tank on the Dyke. We then look at the Canadian battle along the causeway, seeing the memorials and where the battle actually took place.

Key Visits

Flushing Commando Memorial Westkapelle, Walcheren Island Sherman Tank, Westkapelle Zeeland Liberation Museum Operation Switchback Memorial

Today we look at the British attack on Antwerp and see the Cromwell Tank Memorial to the 11th Armoured Division. We discuss the Canadian fighting in the area and see a Sherman Tank at Woensdrecht, before visiting the superb WW2 War Museum at Ossendrecht with its remarkable collection of artefacts.

After lunch we visit a rare example of a German Panther Tank in Breda, and then travel to the Wings of Liberation Museum which looks at the air war over Antwerp and the Netherlands. Here, there are not only aircraft on display but also tanks and other vehicles.

We end at the Bergen op Zoom War Cemetery where the dead from the fighting in this region are buried.

Key Visits

Bergen op Zoom War Cemetery Woensdrecht Sherman Tank Cromwell Tank, Antwerp WW2 Museum, Ossendrecht Panther Tank, Breda Wings of Liberation Museum

Return home.