Ede drop zone

Distance:
8.0 km

Duration:

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This route takes you past monuments commemorating, and information panels with stories about, events from the Second World War on and around Ginkel Heath. Important events are, among others, the airborne landings during Operation Market Garden and Operation Pegasus.

One of the most spectacular actions carried out as part of Operation Market Garden were the airborne landings in September 1944. Two thousand paratroopers landed on Ginkel Heath near Ede. This marked the beginning of the liberation of the Netherlands. The impact of this operation is still visible in Ede.

At the starting point of this route, the landmark Vensters op het Verleden (Views of the Past) can be seen, a work of art that gives an impression of the Airborne landings on 18 September 1944. Information about the Battle of Arnhem is provided on the base of the landmark.

The walk then takes us along easily passable paths through a nature preserve that is beautiful in every season. Woods and moorland can be admired in all their facets. If you are lucky, you can even see a sheep herd. Be sure to find some time for a visit to the Heidebloemplas at information panel 2. You can reach this by way of a plank bridge. The area surrounding the sheep pen used to be farmland. Just behind the sheep pen, a piece of grassland and the hedgerow with oak trees that once were part of it can still be seen. Due to over-grazing, it became drifting sand, which was controlled later by the construction of canals and the planting of woods.

More Airborne hiking routes

Would you like to discover more hiking routes in the Airborne Region around the theme of Operation Market Garden? View the other hiking routes in the Airborne Region!