Canadians in North West Europe
We are based in the Netherlands and travel throughout Northwest Europe to visit former battlefields and other important Second World War sites; from Normandy and northern France to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. As a group of volunteers, we always strive to exceed expectations. Every story counts, and every individual soldier matters. It’s more than just a hobby, it’s a passion.
We specialize in Canadian Second World War history, but we always look beyond it, because many of the battles fought here involved soldiers from multiple countries, side by side.
Watch Path to Total Victory
Click here to watch the documentary Patch to Total Victory, produced by Roger Chabot of Bravery in Arms. Our foundation played a major role in this production through research, planning, and participation.
What we do and how we can help
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Battlefield toursLijstitem 1
We offer specialized tours. After starting with an overview of the battles, we like to zoom in on specific stories of soldiers or regiments, because those stories are what truly matter. We often meet relatives who know very little about what their father, uncle, or grandfather experienced during the war. And although we can never bring anyone fully into that reality, we will take them as close as possible to where he was and what he was doing, walking in his footsteps.
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ResearchLijstitem 2
We do a lot of research. It’s important to know what the official documents say and to combine them with old maps and other recorded accounts. Much of the research happens behind a computer, but it’s even more important to stand on the ground and see what they saw. That’s what true exploration is.
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Then & NowLijstitem 3
One of the most fascinating things to do is to find the locations where old photos were taken. It brings history back to life. Although it’s not always easy, and sometimes not even possible, we love using every piece of available information to figure out exactly where a picture was taken.
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Collecting war relicsLijstitem 4
We collect items related to the Second World War and use them for our so-called Traveling Museum.
When we give lectures or guide school groups, we bring some of these objects to show. It’s important to bring a piece of history into the classroom, helping students connect with the past as closely as possible.
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Projects
We assist other organizations with their projects because we believe in working together. That may sound like a cliché, but within the community of Second World War enthusiasts, it’s unfortunately quite common for people not to share knowledge or information. For us, it’s about preserving the heritage of the soldiers who fought here, not about the individuals or organizations following in their footsteps.
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Filming, Interviews and Podcast
We film our trips and turn them into short YouTube videos documenting what we discover. We visit specific locations on request, or simply explore after conducting our own research. We also interview veterans, relatives, or anyone with an interesting story to share. Our next goal is to produce podcasts about our journeys.
