Groesbeek

Groesbeek is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands.

Description

Groesbeek is named after a small river called the Groes, which does not exist anymore. Hills and forests surround the town, and, because of this, Groesbeek was isolated in the past, with a close community and a strong dialect.

World War Two

During Operation Market Garden the 82nd Airborne Division landed near Groesbeek. In the subsequent fighting the town was nearly completely destroyed and inhabitants were evacuated. The National Liberation museum is based in Groesbeek on one of the landing sites of operation Market Garden, and there is also a canadian war cemetary.

Modern Groesbeek

Today Groesbeek is well known in the Netherlands for its soccer teams, and despite having under 20,000 inhabitants, had three clubs playing at the highest amateur level (De Treffers, Germania and Archilles'29) for 2 seasons. There are alse 3 other football teams, and this is apparently so exceptional it has been featured both on Dutch national television (NOS) and in a big Dutch magazine (Panorama).

The town is also well known as the setting of the third day of the Nijmeegse Vierdaagse when walkers participating in this international event have to pass through the town and the surrounding hills.

Another thing Groesbeek is famous for is that it appearantly has the biggest parade in the Netherlands on the Sunday of the catholic carnaval. Because of its huge success places are now going to be limited as the parade is getting too big.

In the Area

The town has three notable museums: the Africa Museum, the National Liberation Museum and the Bible Open Air Museum. The Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery and Memorial is located about three kilometers north of the town.

Population centres

External links

This Gelderland location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.