The liberation of Drenthe began in early April 1945, immediately after Canadian forces of the First Canadian Army completed their operations in Overijssel. The Manitoba Dragoons, a Canadian reconnaissance unit, moved ahead of the main forces and were among the first to enter Drenthe, initiating the rapid advance into the province as part of the final phase of the liberation of the Netherlands.
Despite German attempts to delay the advance with defensive positions such as the Assener Stellung, Canadian progress proved swift and effective. The liberation of Drenthe started on 8 April 1945 and was largely completed within one week, with the help of an operation combining French and Belgian paratroopers on the night of 7 and 8 April 1945. On 13 April 1945, Canadian troops entered Assen, where they were welcomed by the local population, before continuing their advance northward toward Groningen.
This hiking route follows the Canadian advance through Drenthe, across a landscape of meadows, canals, forests, and heathlands. Walking through quiet villages and open countryside, the route traces the path of a fast-moving liberation. The route will lead you to the Westerbork transit camp and the city of Assen before joining the province of Groningen. As part of the Canadian Trail Netherlands, this section connects Overijssel to Groningen and marks a decisive moment in the final weeks of the war.
