locations
577 to 600 of 1485 results
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Beach Resorts Makkum - Duinvilla 4 personen
Beach Resorts Makkum - Duinvilla 4 personen
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Easterwierum (Oosterwierum)
Easterwierum (Oosterwierum)
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City farm De Sibbe
City farm De Sibbe
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Yachtcharter Wetterwille - Privateer 34 Vienne
Yachtcharter Wetterwille - Privateer 34 Vienne
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A7 Makelaars
A7 Makelaars
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Sâltpoel
Sâltpoel
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Lemsteraak Woudsend
Lemsteraak Woudsend
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Public toilet in Gaastermeer
Public toilet in Gaastermeer
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Bakkerij Breimer Lemmer
Bakkerij Breimer Lemmer
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Restaurant Centrum
Restaurant Centrum
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Haulsterbos
Haulsterbos
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Piaam State
Piaam State
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Museum en Werkplaats Houtstad IJlst
Museum en Werkplaats Houtstad IJlst
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Camping it Krúswetter - Kampeerpod 27
Camping it Krúswetter - Kampeerpod 27
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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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Public toilet on Kaeidyk in Workum
Public toilet on Kaeidyk in Workum
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Marina and Camping de Domp
Marina and Camping de Domp
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Camping it Krúswetter - Kampeerpod 29
Camping it Krúswetter - Kampeerpod 29
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Smederij Hoekstra vof
Smederij Hoekstra vof
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Bakkerij De Boer
Bakkerij De Boer
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Rent to Enjoy
Rent to Enjoy
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Aldegeaster Brekken
Aldegeaster Brekken
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de Tijnjehoeve - Safaritent M - de Tijnjehoeve
de Tijnjehoeve - Safaritent M - de Tijnjehoeve
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Fisching company Andries van Netten
Fisching company Andries van Netten
