Museum "De Bewogen Jaren 1939-1950"

History
In the 1970s John Meulenbroeks first set foot in the Historical Museum December 1944 in La Gleize. It was the start of a fascination with World War 2 and the beginning of a militaria collection. The collection grew and became a museum on the first floor of his cafe De Bijenkorf in Hooge Mierde. In the 1990s the first activities together with the Heemkunde Groep De Mierden ['Historical Society De Mierden"] started. Some years later the museum was opened, after which the search for a more suitable building in Hooge Mierde started.

On 1 May 2005 the museum, now a corporation, was able to open in the old Rabobank building opposite the church. It covers the 1939 to 1950 period. The struggle for independence in Indonesia is also covered as many Dutch people and Dutch soldiers were also involved in this.

Further details
The museum focusses on the area around the village and its inhabitants. There are many pieces of equipment and stories of soldiers originating from the villages. Many uniforms of Dutch, English as well as French soldiers show what it must have been like in the area around May 1940 and September 1944.

A special piece is the hatch of a Dakota. This Dakota, KG399, crashed near Arendonk on the way back from a re-supply mission as part of Operation Market Garden. The pilot and co-pilot both lost their lives while the six other crew members were able to reach safety by using their parachures. An ordinary hatch would not be considered special, but thanks to this story behind it, it is an impressive part of the collection..

Why visit?
The museum does not have any large aircraft or tanks as the biggest item in the collecting is a French motorcycle. The collection offers highlights the years between 1939 and 1950 seen from the eyes of the local people. The museum shows the German invasion in 1940, the French who came to help, and the liberation by the Brits in 1944 and the Indonesion war for indepence after World War 2. It also covers the Japanese occupation period and the internment in the Netherlands East Indies. There are many objects from these periods and signs with extensive information.

Location
The museum is situated in Hooge Mierde, at the Belgian border south of Tilburg. The museum offers a car tour, a walking trail and two bike tours along the war memorials in the area. In Hilvarenbeek you can visit the Fusilladeplaats "Gort en Rovert". Nearby museums are Bevrijdende Vleugels in Best, Kamp Vught, or in the other direction Fort van Breendonk.

The future
The museum aims to keep attracting visitors, tourists as well as more seriously interested visitors. The displays are regularly checked and more information is added.

For current visiting hours, please visit the website of the museum.

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

• Text: Jeroen Koppes, STIWOT (10-11-2012)
• Photos: Jeroen Koppes

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