-- Tuesday Apr 25th, 2023

Depart from Toronto's Lester B Pearson Airport on your overnight flight to Paris CDG. [Dinner and breakfast will be served onboard]

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Day 1 - Wednesday Apr 26th

Upon your arrival into Paris CDG, you will be met by your Tour Manager and Coach Driver before our journey to Normandy. We begin our orientation with a visit to Pegasus Bridge where the 6th British Airborne landed, captured and liberated the first house on D-Day, the Café Gondree. We continue to Caen for our hotel check-in to enjoy a relaxed afternoon before our group welcome dinner in the old port. [Overnight - Port en Bessin. (D)] 

 

Day 2 - Thursday Apr 27th 

Today we will explore the Canadian battlefields of Normandy, including visits to the Queens’ Own Rifles House - the first house liberated by Canadian forces - and the Juno Beach Center, to explore the beaches, museum, and bunkers. En route today, we will also visit Abbayes des Ardennes, to see the Canadian Memorial Garden, as well as Point 67, to discuss the devastating Battle of Verrieres Ridge. We end the day with a solemn visit to the Beny-sur-Mer Canadian Military Cemetery. Tonight, after enjoying a local meal in Bayeux, we return to Port en Bessin for our overnight. [Overnight - Port en Bessin (B, D)] 

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Day 3 - Friday  Apr 28th

Today we say our farewells to Normandy and head along the French coast to the seaside resort town of Dieppe. Here, we will explore the Blue Beach at Puys to view the gun emplacements on the cliff tops, which, on Aug 19, 1942, were responsible for such terrible Canadian casualties. We will also visit the Dieppe Canadian Cemetery before traveling to the main landing beaches of Red and White on the Dieppe seafront. In the late afternoon, we continue our drive to the City of Arras, in the North of France, for our check-in and overnight. [Overnight - Arras (B, D)]

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Day 4 - Saturday Apr 29th 

Today will be spent on the battlefields of the Somme. We start underground, at the Musee Somme 1916 in the Town of Albert. We continue to explore the largest preserved battlefield in the world, at Beaumont Hamel - dedicated to the Royal Newfoundland and Labrador Regiment who lost so many men on that first day of battle. After enjoying a locally made picnic lunch, we will view the Lochnagar Crater, the largest man-made, non-nuclear crater in the world. We will also see the Memorial to the Missing at Thiepval, the Tank Monument at Pozieres and the Canadian monument at Courcelette. This evening, we return to the gothic city of Arras, with time to explore the city and enjoy dinner on our own. [Overnight - Arras  (B)]

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Day 5 - Sunday Apr 30th 

Today we will visit the Canadian Memorial at Hill 70 to commemorate the Battle of Hill 70 - oftentimes dubbed as “Canada’s Forgotten Battle”. In the afternoon, we continued to Vimy Ridge Memorial Park. It was here, at Hill 145, on April 1917, that Canada truly became a nation in the eyes of the world. Its troops combined and stormed Vimy Ridge after all other allied forces had failed to do so. We will tour the tunnels, trenches and memorial, as well as the new interpretation centre, which opened in Spring 2017 for the 100th Anniversary. When our explorations of the battlefields are through, we continue on to Ypres the City of Peace. After checking into our hotel we will enjoy an early group meal together in the heart of Ypres’ Grote Markt. Tonight, at 8PM, we will witness the iconic and historic Last Post Ceremony, at the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, led by the Ieper Fire Department & the Last Post Association. This daily act of homage is among the most memorable acts of remembrance that we will witness on our tour. [Overnight - Ypres (B, D)] 

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Day 6 - Monday May 1st

Today we explore the Ypres Salient of WW1. We begin our introduction with a visit to Essex Farm, the place where John McCrae wrote the famous poem “In Flanders Fields”. We will also visit the Tyne Cot Commonwealth Cemetery - the largest Commonwealth Cemetery, of any conflict, in the world. We then discuss the Battle of Passchendaele, with visits to the Crest Farm Memorial. We continue further to explore the German Cemetery of Langemark, and the 'Brooding Soldier' at St Julien, marking the place of the first gas attacks against the 1st Canadian Corps. Lastly, we take a visit to the Hooghe Crater, and Hill 62 - a small area of the original battlefield and part of the Canadian Front Line. This evening, we return to Ypres where you can enjoy exploring and dining in Ypres at your own pace. [Overnight -  Ypres (B)]

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Day 7 - Tuesday May 2nd

Today we drive north to Holland, as we continue to follow the First & Second World War story in Western Europe. Enroute, we explore the mobilization, occupation and liberation of Flanders through lively dioramas at the Canada Poland Museum. As we drive to our hotel in Holland we will discuss the Battle of Arnhem. Upon arrival into Arnhem, we will see the John Frost Bridge, (A Bridge Too Far). We arrive in time for some rest and relaxation before our "Welcome Dinner", where we will have the opportunity to meet the rest of our Canadian traveling companions. [Overnight Nijmegen-Lent (D)].

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Day 8 - Wednesday May 3rd

After breakfast, we make the drive to Lisse to visit the Keukenhof Gardens, home to Europe’s largest garden, home to 7 million tulip bulbs planted annually. After the war, the Dutch people and their Royal family expressed their thanks to Canada by sending thousands of tulip bulbs to Ottawa. The Gift of Tulips became a yearly tradition. Approximately 10,000 of the bulbs from the Keukenhof are gifted to Canada each year. Before returning to Arnhem we will see the Kinderdijk Windmills UNESCO World Heritage Site, the largest of all windmill sites in the Netherlands, where we’ll discuss more about Holland's history & heritage. Tonight, we return back to the hotel for our dinner and overnight.[Overnight - Nijmegen (B, D)].

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Day 9 - Thursday May 4th

**Private Community Wreath Laying Ceremonies at the Holten and Lochem** Today is Remembrance Day in the Netherlands. After breakfast, we depart for the breathtaking Commonwealth Military Cemetery in Holten. Here we will explore the new Holten exhibits in their new and impressive interpretation centre, before uniting with Holten’s staff and community for a wreath laying ceremony. Before returning to our hotel for dinner, we will also get the opportunity to visit the Canadian Clubhouse, home to the 005 Canadian Legion of the Netherlands for a big and beautiful lunch. Later, Barry Swarthoff, will show us his collection at the Liberation Museum in Lochem, while showing what his community does to honor the Canadians. [Overnight -Nijmegen-Lent (B, L, D)]

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Day 10 - Friday May 5th

After breakfast, we take the short drive to Wageningen. On 5 May 1945 German Commander General Blaskowitz met with Canadian General Foulkes, here, at the Hotel de Wereld. There they negotiated the surrender document for all German forces in the Netherlands. This afternoon, we head to Apeldoorn to walk the street of the Thank you Canada Lane - home of the ‘Man with Two Hats’ Memorial to Canada. Here we will lay a wreath to commemorate the veterans we’ve held hands with down this lane. This afternoon, we return to our hotel for dinner and a good rest, or take the chance to see the Memorial Crossing over Nijmegen. [Overnight -  Nijmegen-Lent (B, D)]

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Day 11 - Saturday May 6th 

**Drive to Groningen**  This morning we take an early and leisurely drive up to Groningen in the northern part of the Netherlands. Liberated by the 2nd Division in April of 1945, the Canadians up here had to fight for four long days to liberate the city, suffering 43 fatalities, 166 wounded.110 civilians were also tragically caught in the crossfire. This afternoon, we will meet our local guide before exploring the central market square. Here, the heaviest fighting took place - the scars still bear witness to the action 77 years ago. Despite the loss and destruction, the citizens of Groningen were determined to celebrate their liberation - and in the early evening, we will honour that memory in celebration with our local friends in a private dinner event in the heart of the city. After dinner, we take the drive back to Nijmegen, enjoy the option of watching a film on board. [Overnight - Nijmegen-Lent (B, D)]

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Day 12 - Sunday May 7th 

**Special visit to the NMM**  Today, we’ll make the drive out to the National Military Museum in Soesterberg who has invited us to join them for a special introduction. Upon arrival, we will be welcomed with coffee and tea, followed by the orientation of the New Lancaster Pavillion - Nowhere in the world is an aircraft exhibited in this way. A beautiful tribute to the seven crew members of this Lancaster NN775. We’ll partake in an orientation tour, followed by a museum visit for you to explore the museum at your own pace. A large part of the museum’s ground floor is furnished with Canadian and German WWII equipment. [Overnight -  Nijmegen-Lent (B, D)]

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Day 13  Monday May 8th 

**VE DAY in Europe** Today marks the 78th Anniversary of Victory Day in Europe. We begin our day with a visit to the Hartenstein Hotel, the HQ of the beleaguered Airborne Forces in Operation Market Garden - now a remarkable museum before heading to the city of Nijmegen for an orientation tour and lunch before a private wreath laying ceremony in honour of our good friend, Bud Weeks, at the foot of the Sherman Tank. This afternoon, we continue to Groesbeek with a visit to the Liberation Museum. We finish our day in the Canadian Military Cemetery of Groesbeek to pay our respects. [Overnight - Nijmegen-Lent (B, D)]

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Day 14 - Tuesday May 9th

Today we take a drive out to Zeeland to visit the Liberation Museum of Zealand and Liberation Park to discuss the Battle of the Scheldt. Zeeland was the hardest-hit province in the occupation, and the effects of the Battle for the Scheldt were felt far beyond. This single operation cost the Canadians more casualties than any other operation during the whole of WWII. After our orientations we head to Yerseke to sample some of their world renowned seafood for lunch. We end our day with a solemn visit to the Canadian War Cemetery of Bergen-Op-Zoom. Before the day's end, we will also visit the small village of Woensdrecht. Here, the Black Watch and the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry engaged with the German 6th Paratrooper Regiment in a fierce battle on October 13th, 1944 - "Black Friday” as it is known, due to the high losses of men from both Canadian unit - however, victory was achieved, and it paved the way in cutting off a large number of German forces in the battle of the Scheldt. Tonight we return to our hotel for our dinner and overnight. [Overnight - Nijmegen-Lent (B, D)]

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Day 15 - Wednesday May 10th 

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Schiphol Amsterdam airport for our flights back to Canada. [(B) Meals onboard]. **Option to extend to Berlin or Amsterdam with visits to Anne Frank & the Dutch Resistance Museum**

TOUR END

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***This itinerary is subject to changes***

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