Walking route 3: Son en Breugel – Sint-Oedenrode | Liberation Route Brabant

Discover the area around Son en Breugel and Sint-Oedenrode where the Americans landed.

(5 hour 35 minutes) 25.0 km

Starting point: from your location

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Discover the area where the American 101st Airborne Division landed during the  Market Garden airborne operation. This 25km section will take you along the third part of the route taken by the liberators on Dutch soil. The Liberation Route Brabant tells the story of the liberation, but also recounts what the Second World War meant to everyday Brabant folk. The total route is 125 kilometres long and is divided into five sections. The route passes along the Airborne Footpath which tells the story of Operation Market Garden. Roads and bridges had to be captured to circumvent the Siegfried Line via Arnhem to enable the Allied forces to advance on Berlin. 

The route takes you past historic locations which are typified by courage, sorrow, fear and hope. Soldiers, local inhabitants, refugees and occupying forces saw their lives change here. You can only imagine what happened during the war in North Brabant and especially in these places.

About this route
This walki…

Discover the area where the American 101st Airborne Division landed during the  Market Garden airborne operation. This 25km section will take you along the third part of the route taken by the liberators on Dutch soil. The Liberation Route Brabant tells the story of the liberation, but also recounts what the Second World War meant to everyday Brabant folk. The total route is 125 kilometres long and is divided into five sections. The route passes along the Airborne Footpath which tells the story of Operation Market Garden. Roads and bridges had to be captured to circumvent the Siegfried Line via Arnhem to enable the Allied forces to advance on Berlin. 

The route takes you past historic locations which are typified by courage, sorrow, fear and hope. Soldiers, local inhabitants, refugees and occupying forces saw their lives change here. You can only imagine what happened during the war in North Brabant and especially in these places.

About this route
This walking route has been created by VisitBrabant Routebureau in association with Brabant Remembers. The route is marked out using the Brabant numbered junction system. Simply walk from one numbered junction to the next. The route between the junctions is marked by arrows. If there is anything wrong with the signposting along this route, please report this on visitbrabant.com/meldpunt You can also call us on +31(0)800 4050050.

Route map
You can view this route page on your telephone or download the GPX file. If you prefer to go on the walk using a paper map, you can order one in our webshop.

Walking in the liberators’ tracks.
The Liberation Route Brabant tells the story of the liberation, but also recounts what the Second World War meant to everyday Brabant folk. View all the other Liberation cycle and walking routes here.

  • Liberation Route Brabant direction signs

    Follow the 'Liberation Route' signs. These are hanging under the regular junction signs.

    Follow the 'Liberation Route' signs. These are hanging under the regular junction signs.

  • Hotline routes

    Hotline routes

    If there is something wrong on the route, report it here.

Sights on this route

62

Starting point:

Waypoint walk 62
Son
Navigate to starting point

The bridge or your life

After successfully dropping on the moors north of Son on Sunday September 17, American paratroopers immediately head towards the bridge over the Wilhelmina Canal.

Starting point:

Kanaaldijk-Noord
Driehoek
The bridge or your life
63

Sanatorium used as a field hospital

During Operation Market Garden, the sanatorium in Son en Breugel was used as a field hospital.

Starting point:

son
Sanatorium used as a field hospital
65
90
88
39
36
04
29
27
21
82
51
50

Joe Mann Monument

The monument consists of four concrete columns, crowned with a statue of a pelican on its nest, with chicks.

Starting point:

Joe Mann Monument
Joe Mannweg
Best
Joe Mann Monument
76
75
66
81

Robert Cole and Joe Mann

On 18 and 19 September 1944, unprecedented fierce fighting is raging in these woods.

Starting point:

Schietbaanlaan
Best
Robert Cole and Joe Mann

Robert Cole Monument

Lieutenant Cole led his battalion on 11 June 1944.

Starting point:

Schietbaanlaan
5681 BH Best
Robert Cole Monument
84
22
20

Museum Wings of Liberation

Follow in the footsteps of the 101st Airborne Division and relive the story that led to the liberation of the southern Netherlands. “Here you are reminded of a time that we should never forget,” one visitor said.

Starting point:

Sonseweg 39
5681 BH Best
Museum Wings of Liberation
07
08
09
32
56
70

Liberation from the air

On Sunday September 17, in three quarters of an hour, more than 4.500 paratroopers are dropped in this area.

Starting point:

Sonniuswijk 42
5691PE Son en Breugel
Liberation from the air

A small shiny box

Things were tense around the village of Best from 18 September 1944 onwards. American soldiers were approaching from Eindhoven, German soldiers were entrenched in the tall church tower in Best.

Starting point:

son
A small shiny box

Temporary war cemetery in Wolfswinkel

On 19 September 1944, Son U.S. Military Cemetery was set up in Wolfswinkel.

Starting point:

son
Temporary war cemetery in Wolfswinkel
74
12
10
13
14
39
38
15
16
17

Henkenshage Castle

During Operation Market Garden, the castle became General Taylor’s headquarters for the 101st Airborne Division.

Starting point:

Laan van Henkenshage 1
5492 BH Sint-Oedenrode
Henkenshage Castle
37
36

Airborne Monument

This monument is located in the side wall of the former Sint-Oedenrode town hall. It was established in memory of the eleven paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division who died during the liberation and defence of Sint-Oedenrode. The Airborne monument wa

Starting point:

5492 AB Sint-Oedenrode
Airborne Monument
35
29

End point:

Waypoint walk 29
Sint-Oedenrode
Navigate to endpoint

  • 62
  • 63
  • 65
  • 90
  • 88
  • 39
  • 36
  • 04
  • 29
  • 27
  • 21
  • 82
  • 51
  • 50
  • 76
  • 75
  • 66
  • 81
  • 84
  • 22
  • 20
  • 07
  • 08
  • 09
  • 32
  • 56
  • 70
  • 74
  • 12
  • 10
  • 13
  • 14
  • 39
  • 38
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 37
  • 36
  • 35
  • 29

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