Chronology of the liberation of Dutch cities and towns during World War II

Map of the liberation of North Brabant and Dutch Zeeland (Battle of the Scheldt).

This is a chronological overview of the dates at which the liberation by the Allies in World War II took place of a number of Dutch cities and towns.

On "Mad Tuesday" (5 September 1944) Allies forces reached the southern border of the Netherlands. After the Allies crossed the Rhine in March 1945, Canadian forces entered the Netherlands from the east. The final liberation of remaining cities and towns came with capitulation of remaining German forces on May 5.

1944[]

14 September: Maastricht, Gulpen, Meerssen
16 September: Simpelveld liberated by the 803rd tank destroyer battalion
17 September: Sint-Oedenrode, Veghel, Son en Breugel
18 September: Eindhoven
19 September: Veldhoven
20 September: Nijmegen, Geldrop, Someren, Terneuzen
21 September: Schijndel
22 September: Weert
24 September: Deurne
26 September: Mook
27 September: Helmond, Oss

The battle of Overloon started on 30 September

5 October: Kerkrade
6 October: Ossendrecht
18 October: Venray
27 October: Den Bosch, Tilburg, Bergen op Zoom (Operation Pheasant)
29 October: Breda
30 October: Tholen, Goes
1 November: Vlissingen, Westkapelle
2 November: Wissenkerke, Zoutelande
6 November: Middelburg
8 November: Veere, Koudekerke
3 December: Blerick

1945[]

1 March: Roermond, Venlo
1 April: Doetinchem, Borculo, Eibergen, Enschede
3 April: Hengelo
5 April: Almelo
12 April: Westerbork, Brummen, Deventer
13 April: Assen, Diepenveen, Olst
14 April: Arnhem (Liberation of Arnhem), Zwolle
15 April: Zutphen, Leeuwarden, Zoutkamp
16 April: Groningen (Battle of Groningen)
17 April: Otterlo (Battle of Otterlo)
17 April: Apeldoorn
5 May: Capitulation of the remaining German forces
7 May: Utrecht
9 May: De Klomp
20 May: Texel (Georgian uprising on Texel)
11 June: Schiermonnikoog

Literature[]

J. Dankers & J. Verheul, Bezet gebied dag in dag uit (Utrecht 1985).