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Liberation museum Zeeland

(Netherlands, the - Zeeland - Nieuwdorp)

The former name of the museum “Infatuate” has been transformed into “Bevrijdingsmuseum Zeeland” (Liberation Museum) after a significant reconstruction.
Infatuate was the code name of the one of the amphibious operations on the Isle of Walcheren. The museum concentrates especially on the battle for the Sloedam and on the “Battle for the river Scheldt” in general.
Next to that attention has been paid to the part played by the war volunteers of Zeeland that have been sent to the Dutch East Indies during the period 1945 – 1948.

The various periods of the Second World War have been exposed thematically. Both allied as well as German relics are available in large quantities. This makes the museum attractive to a wide range of public which contributes significantly to the attention the museum receives from German sides.
In 30 years time the collection of the Bevrijdings Museum Zeeland (liberation museum Z.) has been accumulated. An important part of this collection has been derived from elderly people that have moved house and rediscovered material from the Second World War during the clearing of their attics and barns.
Another part of the collection has been donated by veterans and/or descendants who were impressed after their visit to the museum by its collection and successively wanted to contribute to it. A donation to the museum is an easy brainwave in such case.

Picture number 3: Escape hatchet from a German bomber.
If the aircraft crashed and crew survived then they could hack a way out of the fuselage with this crash hatchet. The shield at the end of the grip is the registration of the collection. A flying eagle has been depicted, below it the letter L in the middle a swastika and it ends with the letter S.
Picture nr. 4: Woodcarvings.
These sticks were made by prisoners of Moroccan descent and served as an object to be traded for all kinds of utensils, foodstuffs or tobacco. The sticks were decorated with carvings of snakes and other game.
Picture nr. 5: The museum also pays attention to the Zeeland Battalion. This Battalion was mainly formed by volunteers who after the liberation of Zeeland wanted to fight with the forces still endeavouring to free The Neterlands and Western Europe from the yoke of the occupational forces. Actually after the end of the Second World War the Battalion was sent out to the Dutch East Indies to bring law and order there.

For current visiting hours, please visit the website of the museum.

Source

• Text: Bevrijdingsmuseum Zeeland / Mia van den Berg
• Photos: Mia van den Berg