Between early 1943 and April 1945, the Netherlands was governed by the German occupiers from Apeldoorn. A number of ministries, as well as the headquarters of the SS and SD, were located here at the time. This had major consequences for Apeldoorn— a dark chapter in its history that should not be forgotten. The story is not only about the victims, but also about the perpetrators.
Starting point: On the corner of Paslaan / Hoofdstraat at the bicycle shed ==> Google map
Duration: ± 1.5 hours
Costs: € 5.00 per person. Children from 4 to 12 years € 2.00.
Minimum amount for a booking is € 35.00
You hear stories that can evoke feelings of guilt, sha me, incomprehension, or helplessness. Stories about Reich Commissioner Seyss-Inquart, the ministries that were located here, the hundreds of houses requisitioned by the occupiers, the places where NSB members planned and carried out their actions, and what happened in the Town Hall at that time.
But also stories of ordinary people, such as a Jewish baker, a German officer who sent a selfie home, an American pilot who saved Apeldoorn from disaster, a resistance group that was betrayed, and a family that had to evacuate after Market Garden.
Along the way, we also pass monuments related to war and freedom. It’s a special walk that offers a complete picture of this complex period. More light is shed on the darker side of Apeldoorn’s history, including the families who had to be evacuated after Operation Market Garden.