Discover the Battle of Arnhem in a unique way!
Welcome to Para-BikeTours! Immerse yourself in the history of the Battle of Arnhem by riding a modern equivalent of the famous WWII BSA Folding Bike! Let's traverse the landingzones, ride to the Bridge at Arnhem and back. I will guide you, in Dutch or English, through the fields, towns and streets. Find yourself on each corner of the battlefield, learn the stories, experience the tactical challenges and see how the personal accounts built up a bigger picture in a unique way!
The Battle of Arnhem unfolded
In september 1944, British and Polish airborne forces landed near Arnhem. With jeeps, motorcycles, folding bicycles, wellbikes and mostly on foot, their objective was to capture the Rhine crossings and hold them for 48 hours until the 2nd Army arrived from the south as part of operation Market Garden. The main target was to built a bridgehead around the bridge at Arnhem. Of the 10.000 troops deployed, only about 750 actually reached the bridge. All the others desperatly tried to get to them, but did not succeed. In a heroic attempt, lasting for 9 days, the airbornes tried to reorganize and hold their defenses in the town of Oosterbeek just west of Arnhem, hoping for relieve from the south. Against an ever stronger growing enemy, lacking all essential supplies, the battle of Arnhem became a desperate fight for survival, which is still visible in the area to this day.
Every street, every crossroad, every house, every square meter has stories to tell. In an 8 (or 4) hour tour by bicycle, I will guide you through this legendary story, because of our transport we are able to pass through little alleys, woods, make stops wherever we like and follow the little trails where only a bike can go!
Touring options
You can choose four standard routes with lots of then and now footage, varying from 15 to 50kms. See details to learn more!
Your guide
My name is Randy Breukel. Born in a small village near Rotterdam, I had nothing to do with the Second World War. But some twenty years ago I visited Oosterbeek by accident during a family holiday. Although I did know next to nothing about the battle, I immediatly felt a strong connection and wanted to learn more. I bought some books, watched 'A bridge too Far' and was hooked. The beautiful scenery, the desperate and diverse character of the fighting, the presence of civilians, the paradox of glory being earned by losing, trying to liberate my country with enormous sacrifices: I had to know more. As a result, I studied to become a Military Historian, teached history for about 15 years and became very active in the world of 'living history'. With a collection of uniforms, equipment, weapons, a Matchless motorbike, airborne trailer and a Willys jeep, I try to keep the memory of the battle of Arnhem alive to a broader public and pass the stories on.
I love hearing a good story, and I love to tell a good story. But to experience a story is even better. As the battle fades away in the mist of history, I feel a growing need of sharing what I have learned and do my bit to make sure the boys who fought in '44 won't be forgotten, so I decided to buy a couple of bikes and offer my knowledge as a guide. Besides Dutch, I speak English and a basic German.
The bikes are ready!
We'll be using British made bicycles, based on the legendary BSA Folding bike which the airborne troops used as way of transporting messages. These bikes have the looks of 1944, and add a lot of character, but come with modern brakes, have gears and offer a lot more comfort and safety then the original ones. The usage of the bikes is included in the pricing, would you rather take your own bike, please get in touch.
"I thought I knew some basic things about Arnhem after seeing the movie, but cycling the grounds, listening to the stories Randy told was amazing! I learned so much and had a fantastic day!"
Arno H.
"The tour offered more then I hoped for! With a lot of little, personal stories, the history really came alive!"
Pieter
"The day started with a map of the battle drawn in the sand of the Dropzone. Using the terrain to experience what those soldiers went trough was a great addition to our European trip!"
Richard Parry