Airbornemuseum Hartenstein — Attraction in Renkum

Visited this museum as part of our 4 day Arnhem commemorative visit. We were staying in Oosterbeek so thought we'd visit it as it is situated in the house used as the allied HQ at the time of Market Garden so a good historical building too! Was a little more expensive than your usual French museum (£15 / adult and £10 for our 15yr old) but we felt money well spent if you want to be immersed in the story of Arnhem and Market Garden whilst paying your respect too! You each were given a personal handset (set to which ever language you need and the cashier explained in really good English how to use them, very simple and easy to hear even though everyone was walking about with them) that you could point at information boards and get detailed explanations about each room, as well as weapon explanations, uniform explanations as well as personal accounts from soldiers, medics, civilians etc. Very interesting for the military buff but also if your're just interested in the stories from real people like me and not the warfare! We must have spent 4 hours there and could have spent much longer as the displays were vast in number and very detailed. Great tribute room to the soldiers with each soldier commemorated with their medals on show, humbling. Great few rooms describing the local hospital inclusion in Market Garden too. Noticed in there a children's trail so even though we didn't have any young children they could be included, however the museum is a little too detailed I feel for under 10yr olds, they may get overwhelmed. However, as well as the vast array of exhibits there was one floor that was dedicated to giving you a feel of what it was like to be a soldier in battle! You followed a trail from the glider where it landed then through the war torn streets with mannequins, street scenes, sounds, smells and loud bangs at night. Very different from the exhibit part but very good. Good for kids ( not too young as dark and loud). We went at a quiet time, could be busy as there are some pretty good exhibits. Good cafe in the grounds for after, with toasties (5...

For any enthusiast of war history this museum in Oosterbeek is a must. Split into three sections, it combines real objects and artefacts with first hand stories and the battle itself from start to finish. Start on the first floor to explore the rationale of what Operation Market Garden was about, what it intended, and what it didn't achieve and the aftermath.

Exhibition cabinets of equipment, weapons , uniform and the rest give the viewer an insight into who was there and they were up against.

The second floor recreates the escape of British personnel, some 300, in the aftermath of the disastrous campaign, with unwavering support from the local population.

The third floor recreates the battle scenes for people to walk in and around, not only the sights but the sounds of combat surround you as you attempt to take in the mayhem of battle.

With the museum supported locally and kept up and running, it is a privilege to be able to visit on what still is dark time in Dutch history. Even more so, the suffering of the Dutch in the aftermath of Market Garden and not being liberated only to be prolonged, also enters one's thoughts as you...

What an amazing place this is. We probably went on one of the busiest days, in fact I would love to come back when it's a little quieter. However it was still a memorable visit. The history of the building and its place in Market Garden is quite something. The museum is so good, it covers every aspect of the history of this place, giving you a real insight. You are given a headset at the start and as you enter each room there is a place you tap the hand set and the narrative plays. I didn't realise that as you walk round on the displays some have numbers if you key the numbers into the handset you get a commentary on that item. Really interesting. The displays are top class, beautifully presented with so much information. We finished off in the special display commemorating Market Garden, not an easy thing to do but you definitely feel the horror of what those young men went through. Thought it was excellent. Loved everything about this place, the outside area is beautiful to sit in and the museum was an amazing place to walk around. Would love to come back and spend more time looking at individual...