Liberation Haarlem Tour: 7 May 2017
 

On Sunday May 7th, the Liberation Haarlem tour will drive from the fortress at Aalsmeerderbrug to Fort Veldhuis near Heemskerk. The tour will pass through Aalsmeer, Halfweg, Haarlem, Bloemendaal, following (as much as possible) the original liberation route as taken by the Canadians on 8 May 1945.

At Haarlem and Bloemendaal there will be two static shows of two and one hour respectively. The tour will end at a militaria fair at Heemskerk.

Looking forward to driving this historic route, as Haarlem has not allowed this type of event since 1995. Great to see public and governmental attitude changing to make this possible.

Zijlvest, Haarlem:
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Some pictures taken today:

A big crowd turned up on the market square in Haarlem:
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Driving off to the next stop, Bloemendaal:
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Arrival at Fort Veldhuis, Heemskerk:
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Dutch re-enactors who rode in the back for the day. The had arranged for a ride in a Dodge WC, but when I turned up they asked me if they could rise in a "real Canadian truck". I happily obliged!
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Liberation Tour 1985
 

Here is a photograph of me and John Marchant with his veteran wartime Toronto Scottish HUP in Vlaardigen.

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Absolutely fantastic ! Nice the way the sacrifice of Canadians is remembered . A lesson for all of us. Good job Ed. Cheers. Robert

Ed....it's a small world, as the only other CMP yesterday, was....I think....one and the same ex-John Marchant HUW, albeit it's definately not looking as tidy anymore.

Hanno, thanks again for the invitation; it was a great day!

Alex

Toronton Scottish HUW
 

Yup, that is John's Tor Scot HUW looking a little worse for wear. Here are a few photographs from our Normandy tour in 1984.

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Ed.....it definately looked a lot better in those days! :whinge

Some more pics taken yesterday.

Alex

Some more...

A lovely Tatra showed up.

Alex