Woensdrecht
Program 2019
Below you will find an overview of the activities that will take place on and around the Brabantse Wal in 2019. These activities aim to commemorate Canadian efforts in the Netherlands during WWII and to celebrate our freedom. In 2019 it will be exactly 75 years since this region was liberated, so there are numerous activities, commemorations and celebrations in this year's municipalities of Bergen op Zoom, Steenbergen and Woensdrecht. If activities have been developed that cannot be found in this overview of 2019, then it is possible that these were not yet or insufficiently concrete enough to include them as such. It is also possible that these are not yet known at the Stichting Bevrijding Brabantse Wal. In both cases it is desirable that you contact us. Please mail to: hansstumpel@hetnet.nl
MUNICIPALITY OF WOENSDRECHTVARIOUS ACTIVITIES 75 YEARS OF LIBERATION WOENSDRECHT
October 2019 marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of this region. In order to commemorate and celebrate this anniversary, all kinds of festivities have been organised in the municipality of Woensdrecht. On February 6, 2019, the first activity comprised a visit to several primary schools. Mayor Adriaansen called on local associations to provide information about the liberation activities they are planning, so that these can be added to the calendar of activities.
School project
The municipality of Woensdrecht and the Werkgroep 75 Jaar Bevrijding give shape to the school project and the military parade.
On 6, 27 and 28 February, Mayor Steven Adriaansen, together with workgroup Chairman Martin Groffen and workgroup member Chris van der Veen, visited all schools in the municipality. Each school received the book about the recently deceased secret agent Bram Grisnigt. That book, ‘Spion van Oranje’ ('The Spy of Orange') was written by Bram de Graaf. In addition, the schools were called upon to commemorate liberation in various ways. This can be done, for example, by participating in the Veteran in the Class project; but also by adopting a war monument or visiting the Canadian and British war cemeteries in Bergen op Zoom. The cultural programme CuKids (from the Brede Welfare Organisation) has also arranged a visit to the war museum in Ossendrecht for the primary school pupils.
Mayor Adriaansen: "It is very important that we pass on the message to the young people of Woensdrecht that freedom is not self-evident. I would also like to appeal for more attention to local history, because despite the fact that there has been a lot of fighting here, that it has cost a lot of lives and that many buildings have been demolished, 'The Battle of Woensdrecht' is not very well known'.
Tour: "The Battle of Woensdrecht"
Saturday afternoon, 30 March 2019, travel club De Brabantse Wal organised a tour of places that played a role in the liberation of Woensdrecht during the war.
Click here for the Reisclub de Brabantse Wal website for more information.
Military vehicle parade
On 26 October 2019, a column of military vehicles will drive from Putte to Bergen op Zoom. A ceremony will take place at the war memorials in each village along the way. Mayor Adriaansen: "It is important that every village stops to think about the Liberation. We hereby appeal to the 4th of May committees, which are represented in the Werkgroep 75 Jaar Bevrijding."
Exhibition organised by the Foundation for the Development of Art 'Uit de Kunst'
In October 2019, the Foundation for the Development of Art will organise an exhibition of paintings, photographs and sculptures. The theme is "75 years of liberation of West Brabant".
Exhibition with the theme 'Liberation'.
On October 6, 13, 20 and 27, 2019, local history circle De Wilhelmiet is organising an exhibition on the theme of liberation in the former town hall in Huijbergen. Admission is free.
Regional competition with the theme 'Freedom'.
This will take place on 6 October. More information will follow later.
War Museum
The War Museum on the Putseweg in Ossendrecht is open to the public all day on 26 October.
Book of civilian casualties
In October, local history circle Het Zuidkwartier will present the book Het verdriet van Woensdrecht (The Grief of Woensdrecht), written by Jan van Elzakker after many years of research. The book covers the experiences of more than sixty Second World War civilian victims from Woensdrecht.
Closing event on 26 October
On 26 October, after the military vehicle parade, a closing event will be organised for a wide public.
Cooperation with the Brabantse Wal Liberation Foundation
This year, the municipalities of Bergen op Zoom, Steenbergen and Woensdrecht will be organising the activities jointly. They are, for example, working together to set up an information centre at the Canadian and British war cemeteries in Bergen op Zoom. They have also organised the school project and the military vehicle parade together.
All activities related to the above can also be found at: https://www.woensdrecht.nl/75
New activities can be registered at: s.kok@woensdrecht.nl
