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Information Point Echtenerbrug (Yachtcharter Turfskip)
Information Point Echtenerbrug (Yachtcharter Turfskip)
Think about the Nertherlands or Friesland and your thoughts will turn automatically to water and panoramic landscapes. Our province of Friesland offers its visitors a unique region of wetlands and nature in abundance: in effect a paradise beyond compare for water sports enthusiasts. Its plentiful inland lakes are linked by canals, creating great opportunities for a diversity of journeys through the often unspoilt scenery.
It is possible to find moorings almost anywhere, as there are excellent berths both on lakesides and waterways. Picturesque towns and villages, well worth a visit - and often with historic buildings - are an invitation to visitors to stay for the night. Moreover, there are countless opportunities for shopping and - not least - for dining out at one of our many splendid restaurants.
All of this makes Friesland the ideal place for wide-ranging voyages taking in all this splendour from on board your own hired motorised yacht. If you have already 'done' Friesland once before, you could also discover new areas such as the Lauwersmeer man-made lake or the north-western part of Overijssel with its beautiful national park "De Weeribben" as well as towns ans villages such as Kalenberg, Blokzijl and Giethoorn (the Venice of the North).
Turfskip Yacht Charter is the right place to come for all these things. You can also be assured of a warm welcome at our base in Echtenerbrug, the ideal starting point for your sailing holiday. We are situated on the Tjeukemeer lake, the dividing line between the Frisian Lakes and the "De Weerribben-Wieden" National Park in the Province of Overijssel.
Here you will find Yachtcharter "Turfskip"
Turfkade 158539 SV Echtenerbrug Plan your route
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The liberation of Friesland
The liberation of Friesland
By 18 April, the whole province of Friesland had been liberated, except for the Wadden Islands. Compared to other provinces, there was little fighting in Friesland. Overall, the few thousand German troops who had been unable to escape from Friesland were defeated by the Canadians relatively quickly.
The commander of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, Lieutenant Colonel Landell, praised the actions of the resistance by stating that "Friesland liberated herself". While that may be a bit of an exaggeration, the actions of the Frisian resistance undoubtedly accelerated the liberation. And reduced the number of casualties on the Allied side.
At least 31 resistance fighters lost their lives in confrontations with German troops and their Dutch accomplices. At least eleven Canadians and one Frenchman were killed on the Allied side. Dozens of civilian victims were also killed in the fighting and shelling. The number of casualties on the German side is not known, but it is believed that the number ran into hundreds. With 320 destroyed and 4000 damaged homes and 80 destroyed bridges, Friesland was materially the least damaged province of the Netherlands.
Many German soldiers fled towards the western part of the country. The retreating German troops gathered mostly in Harlingen, Makkum and Lemmer. From there, they tried to get away by boat across the IJsselmeer or via the Afsluitdijk to North Holland. The Wadden Islands also became a refuge for collaborators and German soldiers. Here, liberation was longer in coming.
On the island of Terschelling, the last German troops were disarmed by a British artillery regiment on 29 May. Two days later, the British crossed from Terschelling to Vlieland, and the liberation of that island was also a fact. Ameland was liberated on 3 June.
Personnel from the infamous Scholtenhuis, the SD headquarters in Groningen, had entrenched themselves on Schiermonnikoog. After their departure on 31 May, there was a celebration on the island, in spite of the six hundred members of the occupying troops who still were there. Only on 11 June did the last German soldiers leave Schiermonnikoog, and then the whole province of Friesland was free.
Most Canadian units that had liberated Friesland continued the battle in Groningen and North Germany after 18 April. Their war ended on 8 May 1945, when the surrender of all German armed forces became effective.
