Location
129 to 160 of 277 results
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Wad'n Hûs
Wad'n Hûs
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De Leiker
De Leiker
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Farm Shop Wâldpleats
Farm Shop Wâldpleats
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Smoek
Smoek
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Oostmahorn Beach and Play Area
Oostmahorn Beach and Play Area
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De HerdersHoeve
De HerdersHoeve
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The liberation of Leeuwarden
The liberation of Leeuwarden
On 11 April 1945, it became clear that German resistance in the north of the Netherlands was limited. On 12 April, the Allies seized this opportunity to advance on Friesland as quickly as possible. One of the main goals was to liberate Leeuwarden. The 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade was designated for this purpose. But things would turn out differently.
On 12 April, the Royal Canadian Dragoons entered Friesland at Noordwolde. They were to conduct reconnaissance with their armoured vehicles and reach the Wadden Sea as quickly as possible. As a result, the German troops in Friesland and Groningen would be separated.
On the night of 14 to 15 April, three Squadrons of the Dragoons were at Suameer. Burgum could not be reached earlier that day, because the bridge at Burgummerdam had been blown up by the Germans.
Meanwhile, all sorts of things were happening in nearby Leeuwarden. On 12 April, the airfield had been blown up by the Germans. And they left the city on 14 April. Leeuwarden would not be defended. The Burgerweeshuis (Civil Orphanage) that had housed several German agencies was set on fire. An attempt to blow up the telephone exchange failed due to an ingenious intervention by the resistance. In the early morning of 15 April, the resistance also took to the streets en masse to occupy important points and to capture Germans who had remained behind.
The Dragoons in Suameer were in contact with the resistance in Leeuwarden. Due to various reports, it was unclear whether there was now heavy fighting in Leeuwarden or whether the Germans had left the city completely. Because the Germans had blown up important bridges on the route from Heerenveen to Leeuwarden, the infantry could not quickly provide assistance.
So, the Dragoons went to take a look for themselves. Initially, a patrol of four vehicles was sent via the Groningerstraatweg into the city around half past eleven. One of the Canadians in those vehicles recorded the following:
"As we entered the city, passing through the concrete barrier by the narrow passageway left for normal traffic, we were met by an almost hysterical patrol of Resistance men [...] In a few moments the news of our arrival had spread through the city, and we were given a fantastic welcome as we rolled slowly forward into the centre of town."A resident of Leeuwarden recalled:
"We lived close to the Groningerstraatweg, where our liberators passed. Many hundreds of us stood there, all happy spectators. All of a sudden, two ladies from the row flung themselves forward and threw their arms around the Canadians' necks, saying: "Oh darlings, you’re here at last!"After the patrol determined that the coast was clear, the entire C Squadron, a detachment of the Royal Canadian Engineers and Regimental Headquarters of Lieutenant-Colonel Landell followed. Leeuwarden had been liberated. After this, thousands took to the streets. One of the Canadians wrote:
"We halted, and were immediately surrounded by laughing, yelling mobs of people, bringing flowers to give to us, and cheering every move. The Resistance men were everywhere, doing their best to keep the people within bounds and off the cars, but their efforts were hardly necessary. I never saw a more satisfying gathering in my life."Leeuwarden had been liberated by the Dragoons through unexpected circumstances. On the night of 15 to 16 April, Canadian infantry moved into the city.
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www.countryside.nl
www.countryside.nl
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Former Notary's House
Former Notary's House
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Leeuwarden (Ljouwert)
Leeuwarden (Ljouwert)
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Clog museum
Clog museum
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Noarderleech Bunker and Training Base
Noarderleech Bunker and Training Base
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B&B Oan't Wetter
B&B Oan't Wetter
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The bombing of Terherne lock
The bombing of Terherne lock
On 11 November 1944, pilots of the Royal Canadian Air Force, based at Welschap airfield near Eindhoven, were ordered to bomb the lock at Terherne in two groups. The reason for the bombardment of Terherne lock was to restrict (German) transport movements. The lock complex was situated on the main shipping route from Germany via Groningen to the Randstad, along which the Germans transported goods and military equipment.
After the railway strike in September had already disrupted rail transport considerably, actions against shipping traffic followed in the months thereafter. The southern part of the country may have been liberated, but fierce battles were still to be fought in the other parts.
Such was the case on that 11th November just after nine o'clock in the morning when the two groups of Hawker Typhoon fighter-bombers took off shortly after each other from Eindhoven for their mission. Around 10:00, the lock at Terherne was bombed from the north for the first time and then again around 10:30.
The consequences were huge for the people living on the lock. The wives of both lock keepers, a one-year-old baby and a German soldier were killed. Also, pilot John Gordon Fraser's aircraft was damaged to such extent that he had to make an emergency landing at St. Johannesga. Although the bombing resulted in the northern passageway being deactivated and no longer usable, the southern passageway remained open and could still be used.
Today, a boathouse for the State yacht of the province of Friesland has been built over the southern passage. A new building, that serves as a guest house for the province, was put up on the site of the lock keeper's house on the south side.
A monument has been erected on the northern pier in memory of those who perished at the lock. This monument was unveiled on 10 November 1985 by Hattum Hoekstra, son of 1st lock keeper Wiemer and Tietje Hoekstra. Since then, the commemoration of the dead in Terherne has always taken place at the old lock, and the children of primary school 'It Kampke' have adopted the monument.
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Former home-work house ir. Abe Bonnema
Former home-work house ir. Abe Bonnema
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Oostmahorn (De Skâns)
Oostmahorn (De Skâns)
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LAUWERSOOG CAMPSITE AND RECREATION CENTRE
LAUWERSOOG CAMPSITE AND RECREATION CENTRE
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Camping de Veldboom
Camping de Veldboom
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Greenjoy Earnewâld
Greenjoy Earnewâld
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Headmaster Jakob Klok in the resistance
Headmaster Jakob Klok in the resistance
During the war, Jakob (Jaap) Klok ended up in the resistance in Dantumadeel, where he played an important role. At the time, he lived with his wife and four children in Akkerwoude, where he was headmaster of the school at Hearewei 13. He stayed there until 1947 and will always be remembered as "Headmaster Klok."
Jaap Klok was active socially and in politics as a member of the Dutch Social Democratic Labour Party (SDAP). When party meetings were banned by the German occupiers, Jaap imperceptibly became ever more involved in resistance activities. He passed on party information, distributed illegal newspapers, and looked for addresses for people in hiding. Jaap Klok joined the LO, the National Organisation for Aid to people in Hiding, and became the Akkerwoude village commander.
Although people did not know exactly what he did, it was known that he was in the resistance. Despite the fact that his name circulated among NSB members, he decided not to go into hiding, but instead tried to be even more careful and to sleep at home more often than not.
As the war drew to a close, Jaap became very busy. The Dutch government in exile was calling on railway workers to go on strike. The resistance arranged for the hiding. On 15 December 1944, a group of about sixty refugees from Arnhem arrived at his school. Jaap was indirectly involved in the evacuation committee, which was looking for addresses for the unfortunate Arnhem residents.
Shortly thereafter, he was warned at the schoolhouse that during a raid in Murmerwoude, explicit questions were asked about schoolmaster Klok. Jaap did not hesitate a second and quickly left the house. And not a moment too soon, as ten minutes after his departure the Germans were already on his doorstep. From that moment on, Jaap knew that he had to be very careful. He hardly ever slept at home anymore.
From January 1945 onwards, the situation became explosive. After the discovery of weapons on a farm in Aalsum, the Germans became fanatical. They relentlessly hunted down resistance fighters and used any means to make those who were caught talk. The name "Jaap Klok" was also mentioned during these interrogations. Sufficient reason to leave then and there, with his whole family. The children stayed with relatives. He and his wife went into hiding elsewhere.
During the last weeks of the war, Jaap was very busy. Much had to be organised and discussed within the resistance to expel the Germans and prepare for the arrival of the Canadians. Just before Dantumadeel was liberated, the inhabitants were already beside themselves with joy. They raised the flag and took to the streets en masse to celebrate. Because of his resistance work, Jaap knew exactly what the situation was with regard to the liberation. He climbed onto the balcony of the town hall and addressed the people. After all, the danger had not yet passed. Even when that was the case shortly thereafter, he ensured that peace was maintained among the population of Dantumadeel and thus prevented the molestation of a number of NSB members.
After the war, he held many administrative positions in the province of Friesland. In 1984, Jaap Klok died at the age of 91. Fifteen years later, a statue of him was erected in Akkerwoude, which was then called Damwoude, as a tribute.
From the book "De oorlog een gezicht geven" (deel 6) – Dantumadeel in de periode '40 - '45 by Yvonne te Nijenhuis and Reinder H. Postma
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De Leijen Beach
De Leijen Beach
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Workum (Warkum)
Workum (Warkum)
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KB Food & Drinks
KB Food & Drinks
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Greenjoy It Bûtefjild
Greenjoy It Bûtefjild
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Opende Blotevoetenpad Barefoot Trail
Opende Blotevoetenpad Barefoot Trail
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Botmas
Botmas
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Holiday home Blomsteech
Holiday home Blomsteech
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Reidswâl
Reidswâl
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Sneek (Snits)
Sneek (Snits)
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Swarte Broek Lake
Swarte Broek Lake
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Mill de Swarte Prinsch
Mill de Swarte Prinsch
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Zwagermieden Nature Reserve
Zwagermieden Nature Reserve
