Spring in the Langstraat

4.3 Scots in the Gasthuisstraat.jpg

Loon op Zand, De Moer, Kaatsheuvel, Udenhout, Helvoirt and Biezenmortel

Liberation route Scottish Highlanders Loon op Zand

Experience an impressive route through Loon op Zand, De Moer, Kaatsheuvel, De Loonse en Drunense Duinen, Giersbergen, Helvoirt, Udenhout and Biezenmortel. Along the way you pass eleven locations that played an important role during the liberation at the end of World War II. Here the Scottish Highlanders marched through the Brabant countryside, on their way to our freedom.

Dwell on the stories of courage, loss and hope. Remember what has been - and realize how valuable our freedom still is today.

The route booklet with map is available at TIP Kaatsheuvel.

DISTANCE 51 KM - 2,2 hours Download GPX Download PDF
  • 4.3 Scots in the Gasthuisstraat.jpg
  • 7.3 MaSt (1).jpg
  • 1.3 castle.jpg

Information about the bicycle route
During this route you pass 11 special locations with a story. In the booklet and on the website these stories are summarized. For the full stories we would like to refer you to www.liberationroute.com

1
Starting point

Kasteellaan 17, 5175 BC Loon op Zand, Netherlands

2
Tall trees save lives
Tall trees save lives

Kasteellaan 17
Loon op Zand

3
Warehouse for contraband gets new destination
4
Premature grounding
Premature grounding

Paalstraat
The Nut

5
War grave and an incorrect date
War grave and an incorrect date

Zuidhollandsedijk 63
Kaatsheuvel

6
Emergency hospital in wartime
Emergency hospital in wartime

Kasteellaan 17
Loon op Zand

7
A rare night attack
A rare night attack

Vaartstraat 102
Kaatsheuvel

8
An ammunition depot in the woods
An ammunition depot in the woods

Eftelingsestraat
Kaatsheuvel

9
Attacking, and now
Attacking, and now

Schoorstraat 50
Udenhout

10
Thundering violence on the silent heath
Thundering violence on the silent heath

Oude Bosschebaan 11
Biezenmortel

11
A permanent reminder
A permanent reminder

Distelberg 1
Helvoirt

12
A special vehicle
A special vehicle

Capucijnerstraat
Biezenmortel

12
Endpoint

Kasteellaan 17, 5175 BC Loon op Zand, Netherlands

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Distance: 67 km
Page 26 - Route 08. - LoZ Pauwels Hoeve without logo.jpg

Cycling route Flora & Fauna in Pauwels

Distance: 19 km
The damned letter 1.png

The damned letter

Distance: 18 km
Church Loon op Zand

Walking in historic Loon op Zand

Distance: 2 km

On October 22, 1944, the attack on 's-Hertogenbosch begins. It is the start of a major Allied operation aimed at driving the German troops out of central Brabant.

In the following days, the operation expanded and on October 27, 1944, the 7th Armoured Division, the famous Desert Rats, reached Loon op Zand. This village lies at a
intersection of roads and is defended tough.

Despite heavy shelling, the Desert Rats do not succeed in taking the village. The job is handed over to the 51st Highland Division (of Major General Rennie) and they manage to drive the last German troops out of Loon op Zand on October 28.

The Scots continue the attack that night and reach the outskirts of Kaatsheuvel by morning. Fearing heavy resistance here as well, the village is heavily shelled, this time resulting in many civilian deaths. When on October 29 Kaatsheuvel is liberated the population is sad and happy at the same time.

Two days later the Highlanders reach their final destination, the Bergsche Maas. After that, the area around Heusden still has to be liberated in a separate operation. This finally happens on November 4 and 5, 1944.