Cycling route The liberation of Walcheren 48 km

Middelburg, Vlissingen, Zoutelande

May 5 is Liberation Day, the day that the Netherlands was liberated from the German occupier in 1945. However, Walcheren was liberated months earlier, to clear the way to the Scheldt, the port of Antwerp and then the liberation of the Netherlands.

In a plan to defeat the Germans, capturing the port of Antwerp was crucial. In order to reach the port of Antwerp, an open passage for the Allies was needed via the Scheldt. Because the Germans still occupied parts of Zeeland, a passage via the Scheldt was not yet possible. Liberating, among other places, Walcheren was therefore of vital importance.

The Allies decided to flood Walcheren in order to force the occupier to surrender. The population was advised via the BBC, Radio Oranje and pamphlets to leave the area as soon as possible. For about a week, the dikes at Westkapelle, Vlissingen and Vrouwenpolder were bombed and the seawater flowed into the country. The advance from the sea onto the country could start from various sides. The occupier made this more difficult by producing smoke screens on the coast, which limited visibility.

Halfway through 1 November, Westkapelle is liberated and the course for Domburg can be set. A number of German occupiers have hidden in the lighthouse at Domburg, when the Norwegians get the chance to throw grenades inside, the Germans surrender. In the dunes around Domburg there is a lot of fighting for days, there are many bunkers of the occupier here that have to be taken one by one.

Between Oostkapelle and Domburg lies De Manteling van Walcheren. Here too, there is heavy fighting. When the weather was finally favourable, the English air force took action with bombers. On 8 November 1944, the battle was fought and Walcheren was free. The road to the Scheldt was open and the Allies were one step closer to liberating the Netherlands.