Celebrating 80 Years of Freedom

Canadian soldiers played a crucial role in the liberation of the Netherlands, and next year marks exactly 80 years since this historic event. The most well-known liberation route is the one from Groningen to Delfzijl, but less known is the Canadian Trail starting in Winschoten. This route passed through villages such as Scheemda, Wagenborgen, Nieuwolda, Woldendorp, Fiemel, Termunten, Termunterzijl, and Farmsum, leading to Delfzijl.

On the weekend of May 3-4, 2025, we will walk in the footsteps of these liberators, learning about the well-known and lesser-known stories in the villages and along the route.

Event Details

The routes will be 25-30 km each day, with the option to choose a shorter distance of 10-15 km per day.

Finish Locations: Winschoten and Delfzijl

Winschoten has several nicknames, such as Sodom, Lutje Mokum, or Mokum Beis, all referring to the city's Jewish heritage. Before World War II, Winschoten was home to the second-largest Jewish community in the Netherlands, with about 10% of the population being Jewish.

The Battle of Delfzijl, known as "Operation Canada" in military history, was the last battle in the Netherlands during WWII, after the Battle of Texel. It started on April 23, 1945, and ended ten days later on May 2, 1945. Just like 80 years ago, we will celebrate liberation on May 3, 2025, by retracing the path of the brave soldiers.

Registration

Registration for the Bevrijdingstocht 2025 will begin on February 1 at 18:00. The registration link will be available on this page soon.

Collaboration

The Bevrijdingstocht 2025 is made possible through a collaboration between the municipalities of Oldambt and Eemsdelta, Liberation Route Europe, and Tocht om de Noord. Special thanks to all the pass-through locations, venues, and many local organizations and volunteers.

Photo: https://www.tochtomdenoord.nl/wandeltochten/bevrijdingstocht-2025-groningen