The start of the Airborne March

Airborne Walk

The Police Sports Association 'Renkum' organized in 1947 for the first time the “Airborne walk” to honour those who fought for the freedom of our country during the September days in 1944, in and around Oosterbeek. Approximately 2,000 walkers participated in this first march, making it a success from the beginning. With the permission of Major-General Roy Urquhart, CB, DSO, commander of the 1^st Airborne Division, the name of this walk was changed to “Airborne March” and the Pegasus emblem could be used by the organization.

Already since the beginning the net revenues of the Airborne March are used to enable veterans, who became disabled due to acts of war during the Battle of Arnhem and next of kin with poor means, to come over to The Netherlands and attend in September the annual Airborne-commemorations in and around Arnhem.

Four routes lead you along prominent places

Four routes lead you along prominent places

Every year many walkers from the Netherlands and abroad take part in the Airborne March, both individually and in groups.
Generally the groups prefer to walk the longer distances.

The routes on all four distances lead you along prominent places, such as:

• the former headquarters "Hartenstein Hotel", now the "Airborne Museum", from where Major-General R.E. Urquhart, CB, DSO, commander of the 1^st Airborne Division led the unequal battle. The museum is open daily; also on the marching day.
• the Airborne Cemetery in Oosterbeek, where over 1,700 British and Polish soldiers were given their final resting place (here you are requested to observe silence).
• the vast woods of the "Bilderberg" where troops fought a hard battle.
• the drop and landing zones of Wolfheze, Heelsum and Renkum, where the Airborne soldiers were dropped.
• the "Old Church", which served as a gathering place during the retreat. This “Old Church” is open from 14.00 to 17.00 hours on the day of the Airborne March.

A record number of hikers

At the 70th anniversary edition of the Airborne March in Oosterbeek, 36,191 walkers participated. This is a new record for world's largest one-day commemorative march.  

We have decided not to inform you on this website in detail about the background and the course of the Battle of Arnhem.
There are some very good informative websites that report extensively on this.

link to different websites

72nd March

The 73rd  march will be held on the 7th of September 2019. The organization hopes for a wonderful walking day: good weather, lots of participants and a great atmosphere.