locations
1321 to 1344 of 1727 results
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Camping de Finne - Pipowagen aan het water
Camping de Finne - Pipowagen aan het water
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Recreatiepark de Jerden - Camping De Jerden
Recreatiepark de Jerden - Camping De Jerden
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Paviljoen De Potvis
Paviljoen De Potvis
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MarinaPark Beach Resort Soal
MarinaPark Beach Resort Soal
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Public toilet De Potten (large building)
Public toilet De Potten (large building)
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Antix Kiteboarding School
Antix Kiteboarding School
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Public toilet Workummerdyk in Makkum
Public toilet Workummerdyk in Makkum
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Public toilet Veemarktplein in Sneek
Public toilet Veemarktplein in Sneek
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B&B Rijsterbosch - Kamer Esdoorn
B&B Rijsterbosch - Kamer Esdoorn
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Restaurant Brasserie De Brink
Restaurant Brasserie De Brink
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Marina Resort Hart van Friesland
Marina Resort Hart van Friesland
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Strand de Ulesprong
Strand de Ulesprong
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Boat spaces at Camping ús Wetterpleats
Boat spaces at Camping ús Wetterpleats
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Iselmar Sporthotel - Romantische suite
Iselmar Sporthotel - Romantische suite
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Drogisterij de Magneet
Drogisterij de Magneet
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Aldehoeve-logies
Aldehoeve-logies
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Boazum
Boazum
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Camping Hindeloopen
Camping Hindeloopen
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Camping Blaauw
Camping Blaauw
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B&B De Oude Dame - Kamer 'De Oude Dame'
B&B De Oude Dame - Kamer 'De Oude Dame'
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El Cafetín espresso
El Cafetín espresso
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Yachtcharter Wetterwille - Simmerskip 900 Tigris
Yachtcharter Wetterwille - Simmerskip 900 Tigris
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Recreatiecentrum Sneek
Recreatiecentrum Sneek
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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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