Jeep tours Groningen｜Netherlands

Join us in an authentic World War II Willy’s Jeep!
During this tour you will be transported in an authentic Willys Jeep from 1942. This jeep is not only a war hero, it has also won many hearts over the years. Our expert guide will explain the battles that took place in April 1945 and show you the traces of these battles that can still be seen in Groningen today. This jeep tour is a unique way to see and feel the war history of Groningen! An experience not to be missed!

The first major battle fought by 2nd Canadian Division in northeast Holland began on 13 April when lead elements reached the outskirst of Groningen. By midnight on Friday april 13th the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry with the aid of a local resistance volunteer, had cleared the outskirst around the Paterswoldseweg, but the cost of the day’s combat – eight killed and twenty wounded – suggested that Groningen might be a difficult problem. Major-General Bruce Matthews met with his brigadiers and decided te commit the entire division, hoping to overwhelm the enemy as quickly as possible.

The German command in Groningen structure was poor and the defenders had never exercised together, however, the Canadians had to fight four days to liberate the city of Groningen. The heaviest fighting took place around the central market square, where the enemy had fortified the houses along the north side of the largest open space in the inner city. These positions were overcome by manoeuvring tanks into position to destroy the buildings occupied by German Troops.

The German garrison commander finally agreed to surrender at noon on 16 April; the next day the last holdouts put down their weapons and joined their comrades in prisoner-of-war cages, which held 95 officers and 5,117 other ranks. The 2nd Division reported 43 fatal casualties and 166 wounded in the battle of Groningen. This was a high price to pay at this stage of the war, and the deaths of 110 civilians caught in the crossfire added to the tragedy.

During this jeep tour we follow the Canadian advance route from the Paterswoldseweg to the Grote Markt. We then end up at the encirclement of the German troops in the former State Archives in Sint Jansstraat.