Overloon - Best War Museum In The Netherlands!

[@tarkers65]

My father Robert Dare, was the driver of "Jackal", the Churchill tank that was hit by a mine. He was only one of three that survived the experience and the letter was one I found amongst his things, after he died. I reproduced it from his handwritten note and the museum, very graciously allowed us to post on the exhibit. Seeing it still there was a real shock and brought back all of those memories of him when he was alive. I know he is now at peace and hopefully, those sounds and nightmares have allowed him to rest.

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Wow that is so special, thank you very much for sharing this with us.

[@pablopeter4821]

Thanks for sharing your father's letter with all of us. The museum pays tribute to all soldiers, including your dad, who fought in WW II. May your father rest in peace.

[@jamieolberding7731]

@@TheBattlefieldExplorer Cool. Are you allowed to touch, climb, and sit on the tanks and get your picture taken by your family and friends? My Dad and I visited the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum in Johnston, Iowa [that's the state I live in the United States of America] and they had a lot of military/army vehicles [indoors, however you aren't allowed to touch or climb onto, but outdoor display vehicles you can climb and have your pictures taken while on them, even play on them] such as tanks [they have a Russian/Iraqi T-54 or T-62 Main Battle Tank [they look the same, also it's my Number 1# favorite tank at the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum. It's not every day you find Russian Tanks in Iowa], a fully restored World War 2 M-4 Sherman Medium Tank [that never saw combat, but was used for training infantry], an Abrams Main Battle Tank [that had scrapes and dent marks]. Outside of the base Camp Dodge [that's where the Museum is located at in Johnston, Iowa] on Beaver Ave. there's also a road that leads to another area on top of a hill overlooking Camp Dodge there are two tanks and M-60-A3 Main Battle Tank and also what appears to be a Chaffee Tank, an American artillery cannon [don't remember the type] and a fighter jet [I also don't remember what type it is].

[@davidprins5504]

@@jamieolberding7731 the tanks in this museum are what was left on the battlefield, they are graves so we do not play or climb on them but respect the graves and the fallen

[@Emtbtoday]

Very sad he was definitely a hero to us!

[@danielgurney6637]

My great uncle died in the Battle of Overloon, just 2 days before the battle ended, he was only 19. It's amazing that places like these stand to be a reminder of those who gave their lives, not just the Allies but also the Germans. War truly is hell, and places like these, although they can't give us the full picture, help us to at least understand in part what they went through. I'm planning on visiting the Netherlands to visit my great uncle's grave so this will definitely be something I'll have to check out when I'm there

[@derrickdoiron4421]

@Just Gofish, Sadly as history has shown us, this type of behaviour is in our nature and most likely will be forever.

[@derrickdoiron4421]

Much respect to your Great Uncle for his service and sacrifice! War is indeed hell but sadly something that has existed since the dawn of time in some shape or another and will continue to do so. I wish you a great visit with your Great Uncle at his resting place.

[@Rotorhead99]

Daniel, 19 is such a young age to die. If I may ask where is he buried, I will endevour to pay him a visit.

[@paulwainwright967]

Been to overloon several times lovely area and people . Went to the museum 2 years ago the best I have seen . The cemetery is really nice very well kept as you would expect. Been all over that eastern area and seen many war memorials . Your uncle was very brave and in many generations would be very well respected unlike many today sadly . You can drive over there it's very easy roads are first class , no pot holes or roadworks .

[@Robin-is3ke]

Respect for your uncle!

[@yuperness8347]

My grandfather visited this place once and actually found his tank from operation market garden! It's the tank that's on the right when you enter the door into the large room full of vehicles. He knew because the number of his tank was the same as the one in the museum. I wish I could see him again, but at least his tank is still there and probably will be there for a long time.

[@markrowland1366]

My first sight of this museum was 1975.I sat on a Leopard tank, outdoor. What a great day I had. It is slightly improved after 46 years. Thank you for bringing me up to date.

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

It has changed a lot since then!

[@jwenting]

Visited Overloon with my dad several times in the 1970s and 1980s. We were apalled by the condition of the exhibits, but stunned by the concept of the museum. So good to see they've rescued so much of it and put them indoors. Hopefully I'll soon be able to visit again, health allowing.

[@itsnotme8093]

My great uncle drove that churchill, thanks for showing it as sadly I cant make it out to Overloon I would really love to go one day.

[@bgdavenport]

Great tour! I like the fact that the vehicles are displayed in their "as-recovered" condition. Now, I have a new place to visit! Thank you!

[@splat003]

plan it during militracks, otherwise it's a loss as half of the museum is a cramped mess nowadays, to many vehicles, to little space, 2 restauration projects not going anywhere (c47 and horsa) lot of intresting vehicles blocked away by others, and half of the us trucks are repetative, and should be put in a depot

[@spacegarnaal]

I worked on that Panther. Best experience of my life

[@The_last_prime]

Really

[@joepalooka2145]

I will check this museum out the next time I visit the Netherlands. Years ago I visited the museum in Oosterbeek at the Hotel Hartenstein which has many war relics and is also extremely interesting, and walked across the bridge at Arnhem and toured the area to see the sites of the battle there. The entire country of Holland suffered greatly during the war, and the people have great respect for their liberators.

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

We try to make sure their sacrifice will not be forgotten!

[@mcj2219]

Joe Palooka Dont go to the water museum very bad

[@harmendejong4754]

@@mcj2219 WTF? You can't swim?? Better stay away from the Netherlands PERIOD Best for both ..

[@robertgarrett4046]

What an excellent museum , great to see the Aircraft, vehicle's and Tank's preserved as they were found on the battlefield , will visit this Museum when i get the chance.

[@MrBadBean]

Went a Few years ago my daughter lives in the Netherlands with her Dutch husband and his father took me there, Great museum well worth a look if you go to the Netherlands

[@CB71SS]

One of the best war museum videos I have ever watched.

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Thank you!

[@Lancaster730]

My Mums Brother Served in the RAF -RAF Wegburg ,His wife worked at RAF Rhiendahlein .They toke to the Museum ,I remember seeing a Sherman tank with its turret at an angle & a Churchill Tank with its complete underside gone .And the museum and it everlasting candle to remember the dead .

[@BRUM9922]

amazing, my old man was stationed in that army camp in munchedgladback late 60`s early 70`s, i was 18mths old at the time went to kindergarden and the house we lived in was right next to the camp and is still there today wow, thinking of a trip to see that house in the near future.

[@stephanl1983]

I missed the lads from Rheindahlen JHQ. Mönchengladbach is a very nice town, a lot of ex militaries who stay in Germany after they left the Army lives here. Greetings from Germany

[@hugoshobbies1688]

I was there like three weeks ago. Very much has changed since this video here was made and that museum is still really impressive! I think what I like most of it is the way many things are displayed like live-size-dioramas. Being a modeller that approach is really appealing to me. Far better than a sterile collection side by side.

[@palantir135]

I know this museum from my very early teens, almost 50 years ago. My friends father worked at the museum so we could always enter for free. I only know the museum as an open air museum with a small internal exposition. I haven’t visited the museum for more than 30 years now so it’s now on my bucket list. I have a lot of photos/slides of that time if they’re still visible after all these years.

[@johneertwegh6261]

Was there back in 1965 when it was completely outside. You would walk small trails in the park and come up on a tank. I remember the shernan with the displaced turret and the Panther.

[@lumr1976]

Thank you very much for your posting. It was an informative and sobering tour of Overloon. It will have to be on my "Bucket List" of WWII museums of England and Europe to visit. Keep up the great work that you are doing!

[@5alien324]

I visited this museum in the early 70's when I was based at RAF Laarbruch. I remember all the tanks and guns situated in their original places they had been destroyed outside. you could still see shell holes and craters visible. I will have to make time to return one day!

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Those days are over unfortunately, the battlefield museum is no more and all traces in of the battle in the terrain have been lost.

[@Drummercommander]

Only here to leave a comment, this museum is a piece of art! 100% worth a visit

[@bongofury3176]

very moving to hear the story of that Churchill. We shall remember them

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Indeed we will!

[@jet-z2r]

Most amazing museum, "WOW", so many interesting items. Would love to visit one day. Really enjoyed watching this awesome clip. Thankyou for sharing. Regards from Queensland, Australia.

[@steve1962]

I visited this museum as a 10 yr old boy in 1972 when we lived in Brussels where my dad was posted with the army - great museum.

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

It has changed rather dramatically and for the best too so well worth another visit!

[@justonemori]

Thank you for this video. I'm the grandson of a Tank commander who was in the 7th Armored, 31st Tank Battalion, HQ Company. I'm just starting to research into what he experienced. I'll have to add this place to my bucket list of places to visit. If you ever happen to be in the good old USA please Visit Fort Knox, Kentucky and Dayton, Ohio for the museums. Cheers!

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Thanks for the tip and your kind words!

[@dickvansteijn4115]

Me and a friend of mine dressed up as German tankcrew medals and all and went to Overloon. The visitors loved it and the staff as well much to our surprise. We were allowed everywhere over the fences in vehicles etc. Many visitors asked about the medals we wore and took pictures of us

[@grahamyoung2128]

Great job on your narration!

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Thank you, Graham!

[@panchonuts7059]

Well done!!!! I wish more of those who post "high-speed" tours would take a lesson from your style. This was an outstanding video.

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Thanks for your kind words!

[@andrewwaterman9240]

Great video about a great museum! Thank you.

[@chuckvan1568]

There's enough military equipment there for a small army. It's an amazing collection and it would be an extremely interesting visit to make some day. Thanks for sharing!

[@marvincderuyscher9676]

Awesome! Thank you! I'm visiting this museum my next trip to Holland.

[@Rotorhead99]

I've visited the museum. A truley amazing collection. I guess I will have to go again and see their new aquisitions.It is worth the trip to the Netherlands just to visit this place.

[@markbulgarin5805]

Wel if you go go on may....there is a event with running german vehicles that month ( every year ) Last year there was even a kingtiger. Google it on militracks2019.....you will love it.

[@CocoaBeachLiving]

Outstanding tour! I had no idea the US had such varied vehicles. The restorations are fantastic.

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Thanks, it is a great museum that has some pretty cool extra activities. One of them is Militracks, you can check out my video about the 2018 edition with a King Tiger on my channel!

[@bertwragg8890]

What an extremely well presented piece of mechanical military history! An accolade for Joris Nieuwint! Thank you, Bert Wragg.

[@MikeStubbsRace]

If your ever in The Netherlands then Overloon is a must visit.

[@kaptensemla6209]

You sould visit the Arsenalen here in sweden. We have a small collection of tanks variating between Swedish, German and Russian vehicles. We are oppen Tuesday to Sunday from 04:00 - 11:00. I sure you'll enjoy your stay.

[@MrTuftynut]

Wow ! I have just discovered this amazing video and museum - what a fine achievement to build this incredible museum with so many rare WW2 vehicles. Your video is really great to watch, a great piece of work taking a quick tour. I must get over there to see this place for real.

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Thank you!

[@ddraig1957]

Great video. Amazing selection of exhibits. The knocked out tanks are a poignant reminder of the real cost of war.

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Agreed

[@jsullivan9238]

A superb tour! Thank you for taking us along.

[@floydfanboy2948]

The Overloon museum is really great. I have been to Normandy many times and visited pretty much all museums there. Nothing in Normandy can compare to Overloon IMHO. Some are really good, especially the new one at St Laurent, next to the American cemetery. But Overloon I like the most.

[@lloydirland7006]

HI My father was an artillery officer in 7th armored, 434th Armrd FA Battalion. They served in the fighting around this area. Thanks for a nice introduction to this museum, Lloyd Irland

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Thank you for your kind words, we will not forget then men like your father who liberated our country.

[@markjones3985]

Excellent video. Yet another fantastic museum to add to my bucket list.

[@paulmanson253]

This is terrific. Well done. Thanks for posting.

[@leoblake21]

I'm so booking a trip their next year also the war and peace festival in Kent... thanks for this really surprising video awesome place .

[@clkgroup6367]

Thank you for another very interesting tour. I love history and your videos allow me to 'visit' all the places I will probably never get to. Have recommended your videos to several like minded friends. Keep up the good work!

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Thank you, that is a very kind thing to say, and do!

[@ericcorse]

An awesome museum in particular I the maintenance and combat engineers equipment. I agree about the high speed tractors they are hard to beat even cooler than a half track.

[@Indylimburg]

21:23 I could be wrong, but I believe that's an FN production of the BAR with pistol grip. Very rare, very cool.

[@davidsharpe3540]

This is a great place to visit for anyone interested in military history!

[@thesarge1969]

My Wife and I were in The Netherlands in Jan 2018, and we went to Overloon, Great Museum. I was stationed in The Netherlands in the 70's and for some reason I never heard of it. I wish I had.

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Back then it still was a true battlefield museum with some vehicles on display where they were disabled in 1944. A lot has changed since those days.

[@jpmerce12]

Excellent and thanks for the review. I plan on coming for a visit in September.

[@jerrydonquixote5927]

Another great video! So much cool history there thank you so much for showing it!

[@suzyqualcast6269]

Thanks, didn't realise Overloon Museum was there and so substantial.

[@Sourdo1]

Nice to see vehicles that are rarely shown.

[@carcharodon9894]

A good tour, I liked the sight of the 25 pounder gun. I trained and fired these when I joined the Royal Artillery in 1976. They where still used to train gunners basic gun skills.

[@CharlesvanDijk-ir6bl]

"Mirbat gun" used by Fijian Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba He handled one of them single handed, apart from one heck of a soldier he would have been in excellent instructor.

[@Spitsz01]

Ben er als kind tientallen keren geweest. Je kon overal in en op klimmen! Zelfs de Panther stond buiten, en de Renault FT en het Bibber onderzeeertje. man wat was dat geweldig...

[@Adonnus100]

There is a great audio recording of fighting in this area on 14th of October 1944. You can hear all kinds of weapons.

[@laurencetilley9194]

Another excellent video. I am so sorry I didn't see this amazing museum when I toured through Belgium and the Netherlands exploring WW1&2 battlefields. I hope it receives the advertising it surely deserves. Lest We Forget. 💔

[@palantir135]

I know the tanks from the seventies and eighties, last century. I used to visit the museum a lot cause the father of a friend worked at the museum. The tanks back then were in a bad condition, rust everywhere. They look exellent on the outside now. I must revisit the museum, last time was 25 years ago.

[@Lancaster730]

The Sherman tank was out in the woods when we visited -1974

[@edwardweeks1555]

Thank you for what you do,I had family who was in the E.T.O.as well as the Pacific theatre of operations so it means a great deal to me that people such as yourself are trying to pass on the single most important moment of not only the twentieth century but possibly of human history,may the good Lord watch and protect you and all those who feel the way you feel,again thank you.

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@fritzrue]

Excellent video! Very well made. I see I’ll have to go back and visit this museum.

[@kxd2591]

Sir: I cannot imagine a better video tour of a museum! Kudos to you for such an outstanding accomplishment. My dad served on a 90mm AAA gun from the Panama Canal Zone, to Boston, USA, to North Africa, Sicily, the Anzio Beachhead, Southern France and Germany. This is the first time I have seen the gun exhibited. Thank you very much. Amazing museum. So many of those vehicles were new to me. Such mundane items are generally left out of the history books.

[@zettle2345]

Mr. Coltrane, my dad also visited the same places your father did, Casablanca, Sicily, Italy and Southern France. Ended up in Munich before coming home to receive his "ruptured duck". My dad was a radio man, signal corp, third wave to hit the beaches. This is one of the best video tours of a truly awesome museum I have ever seen. Hope some day to see it in person. Thank you BFE, and thanks to all those who suffered to make this world better than it was.

[@surf37]

Thank you so much for making this video..I will most likely never get to visit so seeing this video was awesome. I love visiting old war museums. I was a tanker in the Army so seeing this was spectacular. So many great time pieces. Hope they are around for years to come. God bless

[@rburns531]

Excellent tour and Great commentary sir! That you ever so much! Oohraah! ;)

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Thank you!

[@barebp]

Only complaint about this is that the video is too short! What an insane museum. Part 2 please...

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Sounds like a plan!

[@fgbowl47]

Great vid of the museum that i may never get to experience in person.thank you!

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@krbuck]

Amazing place, and great job sowing it. Thank you!

[@operationhighjump4656]

Nice lookaround thank you very interesting!!

[@malakasquad2214]

Very impressive collection. T(h)anks for posting!

[@MrJoeGarner]

Quite a lot of military history here. Great museum.

[@ddpeak1]

I’ve been here it’s amazing the amount of stuff is superb the dioramas are well thought out and very real thanks for the video.

[@panzerlambert1194]

Great video man! Cant wait to visit this museum in the future

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Thanks!

[@harmendejong4754]

Nederlander, living in Canada. I had the honor to work for Charley Fetterly owner of a small Garage in Kearney, Ontario. Serving with the Canadian 3th Echelon Mechanized Maintenance, he was a brilliant mechanic, was also tasked with retrieval, evaluation and possible repair of damaged Sherman tanks. Very rarely, if ever did he talk about these times. - One's a comment - "I will never forget: The smell of burned flesh and the always finding of small remains .. fingers, ears, skin and hair... pretty well in any fucking crevice. RIP Charley + THX..

[@paulmeads802]

If you get chance to visit this museum you will also find a short way down the road the British Cemetery with is beautifully kept by the CWGC. I visited there in the 90's and was gladdened to see that our brave boys were so well looked after and respected by the local population. It was here that after the war when the cemetery was established that all the local school children were given a grave to tend, the most were attended every week and the last of those school children was still tending the graves up until a few years ago .

[@mbaker335]

Superb collection.

[@MadMonk_]

Thank you, def something for my next visit to the Netherlands :)

[@timdeboer7400]

Militracks was amazing last year!! The King Tiger from Samur drove around and that was one hell of an experience! Next Militracks I will be attending again!

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Yes that was a sight to behold!

[@madeinengland944]

Nice! Thanks for sharing

[@gc7645]

Great report and very informative on museum development.

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Thanks!

[@harmendejong4754]

The Sign & Message at the start of this (well done) video and museum tour: Can't stop thinking about these Boys and their night before battle. Indeed, already so many months of fighting and horror still fully realizing the diminishing odds.That eventually luck will run out .. - Maybe a link to Margraten? Regards

[@bobdollar8746]

Well done. Thank you

[@Thom709]

I have been here 4 times, its realy good.

[@grahammoss5385]

Fabulous vids, sensitively and knowledgeably done......well done

[@elbownesdam4024]

Good informative video-good job

[@artd.]

Thank You, wonderful video

[@Frserthegreenengine]

I would honestly go to the Netherlands just to see this museum. I'd quite like to visit Arnhem too though.

[@DAGO58]

Thank you for this!

[@dougchristopher2072]

Very informative thanks

[@specialse]

Nice video , the last time i was here was 1979 with my parents , we have many pictures , and as you say everything was still out side where it was disabled . looks very good now . the Panther and Sherman were both out side at that time .

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

It is completely unrecognizable compared to 25 years ago, so much more to see and everything is in good condition.

[@specialse]

Thank you for your reply , but im pleased i could see everything thing as it was , we later as i remember went to stay with relatives in Belgium ,the wooded area near their house had 2 disabled British Bren gun carriers in it that my brother and i played on over the holidays , i also was given from a local farmer a German helmet , which i still have . great memories .

[@ZZZardoz762]

Very good video, and a really first-rate museum! Subscribed...

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Thank you!

[@alexwild4350]

Fascinating and well put together museum. makes Londons Imperial War Museum look drab and uninspiring by comparison. Lots of interesting vehicles here I never knew existed.

[@splat003]

well put together? the rear half of the museum is a mess, cramped, and to many of the same vehicles.

[@Frserthegreenengine]

A bit harsh on the Imperial War museum. It's very good. Especially the new World War I expedition. The Imperial War Museum Duxford is absolutely brilliant.

[@mattrguitar]

Thanks for this! Great museum, would love to visit!

[@Teardust]

Very interesting place I’d never heard of. Thanks

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Thanks!

[@daddybob6096]

My former brother in law, Martinus Van Scravendyk, ( deceased) originally from Breda, Holland, was a child during the German occupation of the Netherlands. He said the German soldiers, mostly young men, were very nice to the kids in his neighbourhood, often giving them gifts including confectionary such as chocolate. Later when Marty was a bit older he served in a Dutch Tank Corp, which was posted to peace keeping duty in Germany after the war.

[@malstewart6718]

Would love to go there great video thanks

[@Senaleb]

I'm american, this is better than any military WWII museum i've been to in the states hah. This is awesome, thanks a lot! My grandpa served in the pacific he worked the Higgins boats that dropped troops in Guadalcanal.

[@BertiOnTour]

Danke für das tolle Video.

[@nickpink25]

Amazing museum 👍🏼

[@PathfinderHistoryTravel]

Well done. Subscribed.

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

Welcome aboard!

[@fireabend_1226]

zeer mooie video. dank u wel

[@lawrencesimon]

Ah, I used to live not far from here and it was a regular Sunday trip out.

[@Indicate51]

Thanks for the tour...

[@TheBattlefieldExplorer]

My pleasure!