Airborne Museum

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The Airborne Museum at Oosterbeek in The Netherlands is dedicated to the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944.

In September 1944 more than ten thousand British and Polish Airborne troops fought in and around Arnhem. Their objective was to take the Rhine bridge. Six hundred of them managed to reach the bridge. Waiting for reinforcements they fought for four days holding the Northern ramp. The rest of the force, however, didn't succeed in reaching them. Those held out for five more days at Oosterbeek before finally making their way across the Rhine to Allied held ground. Only 2.293 made it back to England.

During the battle the Hartenstein Hotel in Oosterbeek was the headquarters of the British divisional commander, Major-General Roy Urquhart CB DSO. The Airborne Museum is now situated in this very building. There you can follow the events of the battle as they materialised: from the air landings, the march to the bridge, the fierce fighting in Arnhem and Oosterbeek, to the crossing of the river. British and German arms, equipment and ammunition, abandoned at Arnhem some dug up in later times, authentic film footage, true to life dioramas and an audiovisual presentation make a penetrating picture of the tragedy for which Amhem and Oosterbeek were the stage in September 1944.

The museum was first erected in 1949 in the Doorwerth Castle, down by the river Rhine. In 1980 it moved to the centre of Oosterbeek in the former Hartenstein Hotel.

Every year the participants of the annual Airborne March pay a special tribute when the parade is held in front of the museum.