In 2018, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands launched the Nelson – De Ruyter Talks to highlight significant events in British and Dutch military history. The talks of 2019 are dedicated to the 75-years liberation of the Netherlands, zooming in on the Battle of the Scheldt.
The Battle of the Scheldt is one of the most important, major military operations at the end of World War II. The battle took place in the North of Belgium and Southwest of the Netherlands in 1944. British, Canadian and Polish forces had the object to conquer the Scheldt from the German occupier. It should be regarded as one of the heaviest battles in the war. The Scheldt and Walcheren take centre stage in several important moments in British and Dutch history. The region was of paramount military strategic importance due to the connection to the ports of Flushing and Antwerp which resulted in numerous battles. This started with the liberation of Flushing in 1572 and the invasion of Walcheren in 1809 ending with the Battle of the Scheldt in 1944. Please join us for this evening of contemplation, dedication and celebration of 75 years of freedom. Full outline of the programme below. Event Details:Date: 19 November 2019
Language: English
Location: Dutch Centre
Time: 5pm – 7 pm
Doors open: 4.30pm
GET YOUR (FREE) TICKETS HERE. =================PROGRAMME 5pm: Opening words by Brigadier General Jeff MacMootry, Commander General Royal Netherlands Marine Corps5.05pm: Battle of the Scheldt 1944 by Ben Schoenmaker, Director of the Netherlands Institute of Military History and Professor by special appointment of Military History at the Leiden institute for History.5.20pm: Battle Field Tour experience by Jaus Müller, military historian at the Netherlands Institute of Military History with hopefully a short interview with a UK Veteran.5.35pm: Invasion of Walcheren 1809 by Victor Enthoven, an independent historian who was educated as a maritime historian at Leiden University5.45pm: Army reinforcements at the Scheldt 1570-1585 by Adri van Vliet, maritime historian and Deputy Director of the Netherlands Institute of Military HistoryKeynotes moderated by: Captain RNLN Wolter Sillevis Smitt, Defence Attaché5.55pm: Presentation of the first copy of the book titled ‘The Eighty Years War: From revolt to regular war (1568-1648) to Mrs Brechje Schwachofer, Deputy Head of Mission at the Dutch Embassy. You can buy your copy of this book for a reduced price of £69.50 (cash only).6-7pm: Network Reception with canapés
