A Bridge Too Far — WWII battleground and Netherlands Open Air Museum
Arnhem is the city at the heart of Operation Market Garden (September 1944), when Allied paratroopers attempted to seize the Rhine bridges in the boldest airborne operation of WWII — and failed, in the catastrophic battle immortalised as 'A Bridge Too Far.' The John Frost Bridge (renamed after the British commander who held the north end for four days) remains the city's centrepiece, and the Airborne Museum Hartenstein at nearby Oosterbeek is one of the finest WWII museums in Europe. Beyond the history, Arnhem houses the Netherlands Open Air Museum — 100 historical buildings from across the c…
Arnhem received city rights in 1233 and became the capital of the Duchy of Gelderland, giving it a significance beyond its size. In September 1944, during Operation Market Garden, British 1st Airborne Division dropped near Arnhem to seize the Rhine bridge and hold it until ground forces arrived. The bridge was held for four days by Lt. Col. John Frost's battalion against overwhelming German opposition; relief never came, and of the 10,000 paratroopers who dropped, only 2,000 escaped. The battle destroyed much of Arnhem, which was rebuilt modernly after the war. The Airborne Museum and numerou…