The National Liberation Museum 1944-1945 brings the past to life. Typical 1940s smells, dioramas, original film footage, speeches and music take you back to the liberation of the Netherlands and Europe. The museum demonstrates to young and old the real significance of freedom, democracy and human rights.

The permanent exhibition is presented in three parts:
Part 1, the red section, shows the events between the two world wars and the occupation (1918-1944). The crisis trap, the dilemma game and Titus Brandsma’s cell here portray aspects of the war years and what happened before them. Collaborate, adjust or resist, the question is thrown up here as to what you should do in such situations?

 

The liberation years are the focus of Part 2 (1944-1945). Operation Market Garden is visualized, among other things, in a scale model with a sound & light show and a life-size diorama shows the allied troops crossing the Waal. Experience the war in the Lower Rhine region, the winter of starvation and the love that can blossom in wartime in this blue section.

 

Part 3, the green section, illustrates the results of the war and the present day (after 1945). The tragic statistics of the numbers killed, the reconstruction and the first steps taken towards a united Europe. The Vrijheidsplein makes it clear that war, suppression and violation of human rights have still not become history in the world. By means of a computer game, you can test your own tolerance.

 

In the Dome of Honor is the Roll of Honor, which shows the some 150,000 names of all those soldiers of the western allies that fell between D-Day and VE-Day in the battle for the freedom of Europe.