Bergen op Zoom, Huijbergen, Woensdrecht

The Liberation Routes Brabant are eight cycle routes, spread throughout the province, that take you along the stories of World War II and the liberation. Cycle along the area where, from September to November 1944, the largest operation on Dutch soil took place: the Battle of the Schelde.

The aim was to capture the Scheldt estuary so that the Allies could use the port of Antwerp to supply their armies. In fact, Antwerp had already been liberated, but the area from the Scheldt to the city had not yet been liberated.

Five weeks of fighting for this area included amphibious landings and attacks on open ground. It became one of the most difficult battles of the war, won by the Canadian, Polish and British armies.

The original Canadian Sherman tank and the Germans' tank trench are visible reminders on this route. Visit the fields of honour near Bergen op Zoom and pause for a moment at the monuments you will see more along the way.