BATTLEFIELD BIKE RIDE LIBERATION OF THE NETHERLANDS
AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 WWC BATTLEFIELD BIKE RIDE:LIBERATION BACKGROUND NETHERLANDS
The Wounded Warriors Canada Battlefield Bike Ride (BBR) is an event designed through the lens of an important ethos to WWC: Honour the Fallen, Help the Living. Since 2014, over 600 cyclists from across Canada have participated in the BBR — raising over $3M in support of the charity’s national mental health programs benefiting ill and injured Veterans, First Responders and their families.
The BBR is not just another bike ride. BBR21 will celebrate, commemorate and reflect on Canada’s considerable contributions to the Liberation of the Netherlands in a country that still strongly relates to its Canadian Liberators, and possesses a deep appreciation for freedom re-found after 5 long years of Nazi oppression. What’s more, the Netherlands has developed the best cycling network you will find in the world today.
BATTLEFIELD BIKE RIDE - 2021 2 LIBERATION OF THE NETHERLANDS:LIBERATION HISTORICAL BACKGROUND NETHERLANDS
In the final months of WW2, Canadian Forces were given the important and deadly task of liberating the Netherlands from Nazi occupation. More than 7,600 Canadian soldiers, sailors and airmen died fighting in the Netherlands. They are buried today in official war cemeteries across the country. BBR21 will take participants on a journey from Bergen op Zoom to Deventer, covering territory the 1st Canadian Army battled in 1945 until the formal German surrender was signed on May 7, 1945.
The campaign of northwest Europe took eleven months and could not have succeeded without the support of Allied naval and air forces. The navies kept the sea lanes open for munitions, supplies and reinforcements, while overhead the air forces cleared the skies and engaged in dangerous bombing missions.
The Canadians who made the ultimate sacrifice during WW2 are mostly interred at three main Canadian War Cemeteries. BBR21 participants will visit all three: Bergen op Zoom, Groesbeek and our finish at Holten.
BATTLEFIELD BIKE RIDE - 2021 3 LIBERATION THE ROUTE NETHERLANDS
1 Day 1 60 km NETHERLANDS MAP FROM 1944 2 Day 2 110 km
3 Day 3 95 km
4 Day 4 85 km
5 Day 5 82 km
TOTAL 430 km DEVENTER 5
ARNHEM 4
NIJMEGEN 3 1
BERGEN OP ZOOM 2 EINDHOVEN
BATTLEFIELD BIKE RIDE - 2021 4 LIBERATION DAY- BY- DAY NETHERLANDS 1 MEET AND GREET
DATE: CHECK IN: August 31, 2021 1:00 - 6:00 pm HOTEL: MEET & GREET: Hotel De Draak & 6:30 pm Fletcher Hotel
Meet & Greet: Located in Hotel De Draak lobby at 6:30pm
Participants will be introduced to the BBR21 team, provided a historical overview of the Liberation of the Netherlands, WWC core programs and a ride safety briefing.
The Meet & Greet for BBR21 participants is held at the oldest hotel in the Netherlands, the Hotel De Draak. During the war, this 600 year old hotel hid members of the Dutch Resistance forces and was used also as a German Command Post in the region.
BATTLEFIELD BIKE RIDE - 2021 5 LIBERATION NETHERLANDS 2 BERGEN OP ZOOM
DATE: LENGTH: September 1, 2021 60 km shake-out ride
HOTEL: HISTORICAL STOPS: Hotel De Draak & Canadian War Cemetery Fletcher Hotel Scheldt Estuary
Historical background: The Bergen op Zoom Canadian War Cemetery and the Bergen op Zoom War Cemetery contain 1,118 and 1,284 Commonwealth burials. The cemeteries are in a beautiful woodland setting, a stark contrast to the fierce fighting that occurred there 75 years ago.
The town of Bergen op Zoom was liberated by soldiers of the 1st Canadian Army under General Guy Simonds on October 27th, 1944. The Scheldt estuary provides an understanding of the fighting in the region and why it became necessary to secure the estuary as a main supply line for ships to enter.
BATTLEFIELD BIKE RIDE - 2021 6 LIBERATION DAY- BY- DAY NETHERLANDS
BERGEN OP ZOOM 3 TO EINDHOVEN
DATE: LENGTH: September 2, 2021 110 km HOTEL: HISTORICAL STOPS: Crown Hotel & Wings of Liberation Holiday Inn Museum
Historical background: Departing from Bergen op Zoom, riders will cross over into Belgium before heading on towards Eindhoven, a city proudly resurrected after being almost completely flattened by Allied Bomber Command during the war.
First stop is the Wings of Liberation Museum, which tells the compelling story of the liberation of the southern Netherlands at the end of WW2. The museum is situated in the area where, on September 17th, 1944, airborne operations as part of Operation Market Garden marked the beginning of the liberation of the southern Netherlands.
Downtown Eindhoven is an extremely vibrant and revitalized city teeming with a vast array of superb restaurants and dynamic bars.
BATTLEFIELD BIKE RIDE - 2021 7 LIBERATION NETHERLANDS EINDHOVEN 4 TO NIJMEGEN
DATE: LENGTH: September 3, 2021 96 km HOTEL: HISTORICAL STOPS: Hotel de Prince & War Museum Overloon Guesthouse Vertoef
Historical background: Leaving Eindhoven, the first stop is the War Museum Overloon, which recounts the vicious fighting between British and German Forces. The museum connects to a bicycle bridge leading to the British and German military cemeteries in the area.
The next stop is Nijmegen. It is the oldest city in the Netherlands and was occupied by the Romans over 2000 years ago. The city is filled with wonderful shops, restaurants, bars and parks. Each year Canadian Forces members and Police Officers participate in an International Four Day Nijmegen march.
BATTLEFIELD BIKE RIDE - 2021 8 LIBERATION DAY- BY- DAY NETHERLANDS NIJMEGEN 5 TO ARNHEM
DATE: LENGTH: September 4, 2021 85 km
HOTEL: HISTORICAL STOPS: BW Plus Haarhuis & Groesbeek War Cemetery Holiday Inn Express Reichswald War Cemetery John Frost Bridge St. Eusebius Church
Historical background: Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery is Canada’s largest military cemetery in the Netherlands. Most of those buried were Canadians, many of whom died in the Battle of Rhineland. It’s also the final resting place for Sgt Aubrey Cosens, one of Canada’s 13 Victoria Cross recipients during WW2.
After Groesbeek is The Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. It is the largest Commonwealth Cemetery in Germany and contains the graves of 7,594 Commonwealth servicemen from WW2.
The Villa Hartenstein began as an inn in 1728 and turned headquarters to the British Airborne Troops in September 1944. Today, it houses an Airborne Museum, the carillon and the St Eusebius Church, which commemorates the legendary raid on Arnhem by the 1st Airborne Division, made famous by the novel and film A Bridge Too Far.
Our final stop take us to the John Frost bridge over the Rhine, which was named in 1978 in honour of the bravery and leadership displayed by the commander of the 2nd Battalion during Operation Market Garden.
BATTLEFIELD BIKE RIDE - 2021 9 LIBERATION NETHERLANDS ARNHEM 6 TO DEVENTER
DATE: LENGTH: September 5, 2021 82 km HOTEL: HISTORICAL STOPS: Postillion Holten Canadian Deventer War Cemetery
Historical background: On our final ride day of BBR21, our commemorative stop is the final of the three Canadian cemeteries in the Netherlands, the Holten Canadian War Cemetery. Almost 1400 men are buried here, as the advance of the Canadian 2nd Corps into Northern Germany was an arduous and difficult task. This will also be the location of the final service and ceremony.
The wrap-up party and celebration is located at the final hotel in Deventer.
BATTLEFIELD BIKE RIDE - 2021 10 LIBERATION QUICK INFO NETHERLANDS
Dates August 31 - September 5, 2021
Route Bergen Op Zoom to Deventer
Open To Anybody!
Cost $4,000 (Minimum Fundraising Amount Per Person)
BATTLEFIELD BIKE RIDE - 2021 11 LIBERATION FAQ NETHERLANDS
Is WWC booking my flights? No: You are responsible for arranging your own flights and transportation to the Meet & Greet in Bergen Op Zoom, Netherlands. You are also responsible for arranging your return flight and transportation from the hotel in Deventer, Netherlands.
**Do not book return flights before 2 pm on September 6,2021**
Do I have to book my own accommodations? No: Your accommodations (double occupancy) are provided from August 31, 2021 for six nights until checkout on September 5, 2021. Your rooms are included as part of your participation.
What services are provided as part of my ride package? You will be very well supported along the journey. Some of the services included as part of tour are:
• Meet & Greet • Hotel accommodations • Entrance fees for museums • Breakfast each morning • Lunch each riding day • Mechanical support for both rental and own bikes • Vehicles support to assist riders along the route • Water and nutrition stops throughout the ride • Complimentary team jersey • Complimentary team dinner on final night
What is a normal day like? In short: FUN!! Wake up around 6:30, Breakfast at 7. Pre-ride brief at 8, on the road by 9am. Ride till about noon, including a stop of interest en route, and stop for lunch for about an hour. Back on your bike for another 2-3 hours (including stops) and arrive at the destination hotel in the afternoon. Grab some of the provided post-ride nutrition and check into your room. Shower, relax, and get ready for dinner. Dinner on your own schedule (except for the gala dinner on the last day)
BATTLEFIELD BIKE RIDE - 2021 12 LIBERATION FAQ NETHERLANDS
What happens with my luggage/bike box during the ride? When you check in, you will give your empty bike box to BBR21 staff who will transport it for you during the event and return it to you at the end. Your personal luggage will be transported to each hotel each day.
What if I don’t want to bring my own bike, can I rent a bike? Yes: You are not required to bring your own bike and we actually recommend using one of our high-end rental fleet, as it alleviates the stress of traveling with a bike. You will be contacted in the months leading up to the ride for bike rental details. Your rental bike will be set up and ready for you in the morning of the first day and will be collected from you in the afternoon of final day. It is suggested to bring your own pedals and seat.
What happens at the end of the tour? On the final day, you will arrive to our hotel; check in, collect your bike box (for those that bring their own bikes) or return rental bikes.
BATTLEFIELD BIKE RIDE - 2021 13 LIBERATION BBR TOUR TEAMNETHERLANDS
BBR Manager, Experience BBR Tour Manager Jacqueline Zweng Matt Barlee
BBR Ride Guide BBR Ride Guide BBR Ride Guide Jimmy Brown Dan Flynn Ron Mierau
BBR Tour Provider - Magic Places
BBR Ride Guide Rhea Kettles
For nearly 30 years, Magic Places has been providing high-end, boutique cycling tours to the world’s greatest cycling destinations. Whether a small-group custom tour, a bucket-list race experience, or a large scale charity ride, Magic Places delivers BBR Ride Guide professional cycling vacations with a John Tolkamp personal touch that will make it the ride of your life.
BATTLEFIELD BIKE RIDE - 2021 14 BATTLEFIELD BIKE RIDE 2021 LIBERATION OF THE NETHERLANDS AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 5, 2021