Liberation Route Brabant - Route Vught

Fort Isabella

The waterworks and road pattern are still reminiscent of the original star-shaped pattern of this former Spanish fort. Built during the Eighty Years' War on the site of the former hamlet of De Reut. The purpose of the fort was the southern protection of the city of 's-Hertogenbosch and to keep the Dommel River free from enemy influence. Later a barracks was built here, which was used by the Cyclists Regiment from 1922 to May 1940. After the capitulation, Fort Isabella became a German barracks.

The monument on the Poeldonk
On May 12, 1940, the Poeldonk was ablaze. Several farms burned down. Dutch soldiers fought fiercely against the advancing Germans at the Dungense Bridge. An unequal battle with five deaths on the German side and at least three on the Dutch side. Among those killed was the heroic KNIL soldier Major Döbken. His death broke Dutch morale, after which the remaining soldiers tried to save themselves by quickly changing their military clothing for civilian clothes. They fled along the canal.
Seminar Beekvliet
During the Second World War, Kleinseminaria Beekvliet was one of the hostage camps about which the story "I opened the door myself" (point 4 on the map) is about. Of the hostages who were locked up here for a short or longer period of time, the best known are entrepreneur Frits Philips, comedian Lou Bandy and writers Simon Vestdijk and Anton van Duinkerken. Near the seminary, several streets and squares are named after hostages who were imprisoned here or had to pay for their internment with death.

Halderse Bridge
The Halderse bridge was on the old road to Sint-Michielsgestel. This is now a dead end, because the post-war bridge was demolished. To slow down the Allied advance, the Germans blew up the Halderse Bridge in 1944. However, the English infantry managed to establish a bridgehead and new bridges were quickly constructed. Due to the fierce German resistance, the English were stuck on the bridgehead for a day and a half.
Huize Bergen estate
In 1927, Charlotte van Beuningen-Fentener van Vlissingen and her husband Willem van Beuningen moved into the house on the Huize Bergen estate. The couple is remembered in the municipality of Vught for their many good deeds. For example, in 1943 and 1944, Charlotte, together with girls and women from the village, arranged for sandwiches to be made and food parcels to be put together every morning at the Huize Bergen Estate. These were then taken by horse and cart to the prisoners in Camp Vught. Charlotte received cooperation from all over the country for the food supply. But one thing led to another. For example, families of prisoners asked for information and notes to be included with the packages. She couldn't start that.

Villa Roucouleur
In November 1941 the Germans requisitioned Villa Roucouleur. They established the office of the Beauftragte of Brabant, the highest German civilian administrator, there. Just before the liberation of Vught, General Kurt Student had his headquarters here. After the Second World War, various military units were housed at Villa Roucouleur: Allied troops, Dutch Stoot troops on their way to the Dutch East Indies and later also Belgian units.