
HIGHLIGHTS
With guidance from Liberation Route Europe, VVV (Dutch Tourist Information), KWBN (Dutch Walking League), battlefield tour guides, and the Canadian Embassy in The Netherlands, IOFF highlights include:
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A 60 km pilgrimage (over 3 days) along routes taken by the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Canadian Divisions
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Guidance from professional battlefield guides
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Flower Ceremony at Groesbeek Cemetery
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Candlelight Vigil
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Nijmegen Sunset March
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NL Remembrance Day Ceremony at Holten Cemetery
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Liberation Day Party in Almen
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Apeldoorn Liberation Festivities
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Canadian Camp at the Royal Family’s Palace (Het Loo)
HIGHLIGHTS
In our Fathers’ Footsteps is a spiritual, cultural, and educational experience. With guidance from Liberation Route Europe, VVV (Dutch Tourist Information), KWBN (Royal Dutch Walking League), battlefield tour guides, and the Canadian Embassy in The Netherlands, IOFF 2025 highlights include:
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Meet & Greet and Orientation
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Platoon walks totalling 50 km (over several days) along researched routes taken
by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Canadian Divisions in 1944 and 1945 -
The Canadian Remembrance Torch, and pipe band accompaniment
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Professionally-certified tour guides, walking guide-notes, military gear
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Hotel barracks on the site of a former Canadian Second World War field hospital
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Ferry crossings of rivers: IJssel, and Scheldt
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Sunset March Tribute on the Waal/Rhine Bridge in Nijmegen
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Remembrance tributes at Canadian war cemeteries, including Holten, Groesbeek and Bergen op Zoom
and many Canadian war monuments -
Candlelight Torch walk, vigil with locals
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Entertainment and hospitality of Dutch towns and villages
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Liberation events, parties, and festivities with local communities
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Apeldoorn’s Liberation Parade with dozens of United Pipers for Peace bands,
and tens of thousands of spectators! -
HLGen Richard Rohmer (101-year-old Canadian veteran) as Parade Commander, participation of Canadian Second World War Veterans plus a large contingent of active members of the Canadian Armed Forces
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Historic “Flame-merging Ceremony” in Apeldoorn
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Private meeting with Princess Margriet following the “80 Years Liberation” event
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Farewell party with military-themed music and entertainment