According to Feenstra, the material damage of the liberation in Hooghalen is great. “Before the liberation, Hooghalen was a beautiful monumental village with beautiful farms,” he says. “That was almost completely reduced to ashes. A Canadian was killed in the process. That is why Hooghalen is on this route, the worst affected village in Drenthe.”
“Large parts of the Netherlands have been liberated by the Canadians and large parts of Drenthe have also been liberated under Canadian command,” says initiator Gert-Jan Jacobs of Liberation Route Europe, who is part of the walking tour. “Our freedom cannot be taken for granted and these stories contribute to that awareness.”
The 150-kilometre tour runs from A to B. In addition, there are several rounds to make: a round of Meppel (approx. 5 km), a round of Hoogeveen-Pesse (approx. 10 km), a round of Hooghalen-Grolloo (approx. 20 km ) and a round of Assen (approx. 10 km). In some places, such as in Meppel, there are already some listening stones. As of today, they are therefore part of a walking route.
Hooghalen will also receive a specially designed commemorative sign. The Public Primary School De Bosvlinder has adopted this monument. It will be unveiled in the village on June 28.
According to Jacobs, you don’t walk quite literally in the footsteps of the Canadians. “The Canadians have also driven large parts and you are not going to walk on the provincial road.” The walking route therefore also takes in other beautiful parts of the province in the vicinity of the original road.