At Hotel De Wereld, discussions about the instrument of surrender took place on 5 May 1945; the document was signed the following day in the university’s auditorium. In Wageningen, you can explore this history through memorial sites and exhibitions, while landscapes, arboretums and trails offer a different focus for your explorations.

Memorial Sites and the City’s History

A plaque at Hotel De Wereld commemorates the liberation of Wageningen on 5 May 1945. The Capitulatiezaal at the hotel can be visited as part of the restaurant; check current visiting arrangements in advance. Commemorative events are held every year on 4 and 5 May at 5 Mei Square. The square is home to Hotel De Wereld and the National Liberation Monument, among other landmarks.

The Vrijheidsvuur is also part of the culture of remembrance: this copper artwork with an eternal flame plays an important role in the annual Bevrijdingsvuurestafette relay. For many years, the Bevrijdingsfestival has taken place in Wageningen on 5 May. If you are planning to visit on these dates, check the latest event dates and programmes. The Jewish memorial De Levenspoort commemorates 71 victims from Wageningen’s Jewish community who died during the Second World War.

The De Casteelse Poort City Museum presents Wageningen’s history in two permanent exhibitions. The Historiezaal explores the formation of the landscape and 5,000 years of settlement history; the remains of a castle tower can be seen in the basement. The cityscape also offers clues to the past: the Grote Kerk dates back to the 13th century. Delft School architecture can be found mainly around the market square and at the end of Hoogstraat.

Landscape, Gardens and Walking Trails

The Wageningse Eng is designated a National Landscape. Fields, old sandy tracks and hedgerows shape its open, tranquil landscape. The floodplains of the Wageningse Bovenpolder are home to distinctive flora and fauna. You can go for a walk in the southern part, where you may encounter cows and horses.

Belmonte Arboretum is a botanical garden covering more than 10.7 hectares, with distinctive, labelled collections of trees and shrubs. It offers views across the Neder-Rijn to the Betuwe. Arboretum De Dreijen was established in 1895 on the initiative of the Rijkslandbouwschool, a predecessor of today’s Wageningen University. You can also walk to the botanical gardens from the city centre. Het Depot’s De Dreijen and Hinkeloord arboretums are open daily from 10 am to 5 pm; check visiting hours before travelling.

When choosing a walking route, consider its length and theme. The Klompenpad Wageningse Engpad is 12.5 kilometres long and runs through Wageningen’s outskirts, along the edge of the forest, over the push moraine and along sandy tracks. The Stad der Bevrijding walking route is three kilometres long and focuses on Wageningen’s history during the Second World War. The routes therefore differ both in distance and in what they explore.

Practical Information for Your Visit

Beeldengalerij Het Depot is free to visit four days a week, and most of the sculptures may be touched. From Wageningen bus station, it is about a ten-minute walk to the gallery, which is well connected by public transport. Check the latest visitor information and connections before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Wageningen, Neerijnen, Doesburg, Winterswijk, Zaltbommel, Geldermalsen, Lingewaal, Harderwijk.

Return to the main travel overview: Gelderland.