The Waag building is on fire
Sneek
On Saturday 14 April 1945, the Germans slowly withdraw from Sneek. To prevent the German ammunition stocks from falling into the hands of the Allies, the Germans decided to set fire to the monumental Waaggebouw on the corner of Marktstraat and Leeuwenburg
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On Saturday 14 April 1945, the Germans slowly withdraw from Sneek. To prevent the German ammunition stocks from falling into the hands of the Allies, the Germans decided to set fire to the monumental Waaggebouw on the corner of Marktstraat and Leeuwenburg.
On April 15, 1945, the residents of Sneek heard the popping, hissing and booming of exploding ammunition for half an hour. Many people dare to go out on the street again and walk towards the fire. To guarantee the safety of the residents, the Internal Forces of Sneek summons the residents to return home and wait for the liberation at home. There is also a rumor that the Germans are on their way from Lemmer.
In the evening, the first patrol of the French-Canadian regiment de La Chaudière enters the city with armored vehicles. Fortunately, they don't have to use it, because the Germans have left the city. The liberation of Sneek is a fact!
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Locations
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Alde Feanen - Westersanning - Vogelkijkhut
Alde Feanen - Westersanning - Vogelkijkhut Oudega Gem Smallingerlnd -
Ameland - Hollum - Dijk nabij P. Miedeweg - Vogelkijkpunt
Ameland - Hollum - Dijk nabij P. Miedeweg - Vogelkijkpunt Ballum -
Makkum War Memorial
Makkum War Memorial
By 16 April, the major part of Friesland had been liberated. But some important targets of the Canadians had not yet been achieved. They wanted to win the Frisian ports and the Head of the Afsluitdijk from the Germans as quickly as possible. But they would be hard fought. Both the ports and the Afsluitdijk were used by German soldiers to escape to North Holland.
As elsewhere in Friesland, the Canadians were helped by resistance fighters from the Dutch Domestic Armed Forces (N.B.S.) They suffered several casualties near Makkum. On 16 April, Schelte Bruinsma and Simon Sipma were killed in an attack on a farm in which the Germans had entrenched themselves. The next day, another group tried to occupy a bridge under Makkum. However, the Germans caught sight of them and in the ensuing gunfight, Rinnert Anema, Roelof van der Meer and Hendrik Postma were killed. Makkum was liberated on 18 April, as one of the last villages in Friesland.
The monument at the Buren in Makkum was unveiled in 1952 in commemoration of the members of the Dutch Domestic Armed Forces who were killed around the village during the struggle for liberation.
In the neighbourhood
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Iisbaankeunstrûte | Midden Fryslân | Fietsroute(60.4 km)Sneek -
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From city to city: Sneek - IJlst | Cycling tour
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Van stad naar stad: IJlst - Workum - Bolsward - Sneek | Fietsrondje
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