Liberation Garden
WW II museum in Leopoldsburg
In a region where some 100,000 fallen from more than a dozen nations have their final resting places, Liberation Garden lets you experience the Second World War in a unique way.
Liberation Garden lets you experience the Second World War in a unique way. Did you know that tens of thousands of German soldiers exercised at the Beverlo Camp while thousands of political prisoners were locked up at the same time? Did you know that between the canals around Leopoldsburg, the Allied liberation threatened to get stuck? That this is why Market Garden, one of the most daring operations of World War II, was launched from here? And did you know that from this region, flying daredevils also killed Nazi Germany?
Fly a Spitfire across the Siegfried Line and into the heart of Nazi Germany. And don’t forget to touch the outstretched hands of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.
It will literally make them come alive with their moving stories.
In touch with history!
Practical information
INFO ON OUR MUSEUM
Adress
3970 Leopoldsburg (Belgium)
tel.: +32(0)-11 29.38.00 (during office hours)
Opening times
The museum is open every day from 10am to 5pm. An average visit lasts 2 hours, so it’s best to start your visit no later than 3 pm.
Closed on Mondays (excluding holidays and bridge days).
Open on all holidays except Jan. 1, Easter Sunday and Dec. 25.
Annual leave: from Monday, Jan. 8, 2024 to Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024.
How to get there + parking
Leopoldsburg is easy to reach by train, bicyle, bus and car.
The railway station of Leopoldsburg is only a 10-minute walk from Liberation Garden.
By bicycle: there is a roofed bicycle shed at the site entrance.
Parking: in the immediate vicinity of Liberation Garden there is plenty of parking. Enter Merkemlaan in your GPS. Parking is best in Koningin Louisa-Marialaan or Merkemlaan. Parking directly in front of the museum is reserved for visitors with disabilities.
Buses: a kiss and ride zone is provided in front of the Liberation Garden entrance. View the parking plan for (tour) buses here.
gift voucher
You can also order a gift voucheronline.
Shop
Our museum shop is the last stop during your visit to Liberation Garden.
You will find a wide range of high-quality, original and sustainable merchandise, from books on World War II to clothing by local designers. You can also discover delicious regional specialities and an exclusive Splendid microbier sold only in our shop.
Rates
| Adults | € 15,00 | |
| Children < 6 years | Free | |
| Children 6 – 18 years | € 6,00 | |
| Groups ( from 10 persons) Not combinable with other rates |
€ 10,00 | |
| Students and visitors with disabilities | € 8,00 | |
| School groups from outside Leopoldsburg | € 4,00 | |
| School groups from Leopoldsburg | € 2,00 | |
| Teacher’s card | € 7,50 | |
| museum pass | Free | |
| Senior citizens (65+) | € 12,00 | |
| Residents from Leopoldsburg* | € 6,00 | |
| Residents from Leopoldsburg (6 – 18 years)* | € 3,00 | |
| * Only with ‘Vriendenpas’ until 31/12/2023 |
Our museum is wheelchair accessible.
Tickets
Ticket information
Book your visit
Prebook your tickets. . This way you avoid queues, big crowds or worse, a sold out time slot.
Are you a resident of Leopoldsburg?
Residents of Leopoldsburg will pay €6.00 per adult and €3.00 per child (6 – 18 years old) until the end of 2023. To enjoy this rate, you do need a Vriendenpas, which you can pick up free of charge at the cultural centre’s counter (Kastanjedreef 1, 3970 Leopoldsburg). Thanks to this Vriendenpas, you can also book tickets and attend workshops at the CC at a reduced price.
Individual tickets
Coming alone, with friends or family?
.
Group visits and guided tours
Liberation Garden’s audio tour is an excellent option for group visits. This provides in-depth information about the exhibits. Plan on around 2 hours for your visit.
You can also book tours of the museum and/or surroundings with a tour guide. Tours with a guide (ENG, FR, DE) cost 90 euros for the first 2 hours and 45 euros for each additional hour. The maximum group size for guided tours is 20 people. There is no minimum group size.
You can book and cancel a guide at the latest 14 days before the visit. After this, there is no refund.
Groups of 10 people or more are charged the museum group rate (10 euros per person). Smaller groups pay the individual rates.
To book a guided tour or group visit of Liberation Garden, please send an email to contact@liberationgarden.be. In your email, be sure to provide your group details (name, billing address, company registration no.), contact person details (email address, telephone number, first name and surname), the number of participants per rate, desired visit date and time and whether you would like to visit the museum with an audio tour or one or more tour guides.
Some guided tours in the museum’s surroundings include:
- Tour of the military cemeteries. Duration: 1 hour or 2 hours.
- Guided walking tour in the environs of Liberation Garden (Royal Park, military cemeteries, etc.). Duration: 2 hours.
- Guided driving tour of the military grounds (incl. the current firing ranges and WWII execution grounds (Secret Cemetery), the WWII cemeteries, and the WWII Ditch of Sorrow. Duration: 2 hours. Conditions: the driving tour is available only for groups travelling by coach which a tour guide can board and can only be booked on request at least one month in advance.
Liberation Pass
This pass costs € 35 and allows one year of admission to our museum during opening hours.
Volunteers and Guides
Liberation Garden is always looking for enthusiastic volunteers and guides. You can sign up using the button below.
School and youth groups
School and youth groups are welcome to visit during the museum’s regular opening times on Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, including public holidays. The museum provides tour guides for all school and youth groups. Guided tours take 2 hours, so please plan for your visit to start at no later than 3 pm. Tours with a guide (ENG, FR, DE) cost 90 euros for the first 2 hours and 45 euros for each additional hour. The maximum group size for guided tours is 20 people. There is no minimum group size. You can book and cancel a guide at the latest 14 days before the visit. After this, there is no refund.
Youth group participants between the ages of 6 and 18 years can purchase tickets for 6 euros per person. The rate for school groups from outside Leopoldsburg is 4 euros per person (for school groups from Leopoldsburg, the rate is 2 euros per person). This rate includes 1 accompanying adult per 15 pupils/youth group members.
To book a youth group visit to Liberation Garden, please send an email to contact@liberationgarden.be. In your email, be sure to provide your school or group details (name, billing address, company registration no.), contact person details (email address, telephone number, first name and surname), the number of pupils or participants, the number of accompanying adults, and the desired visit date and time.
THE MUSEUM
What is liberation garden?
September 1944. The Second World War is entering its final stage. In the face of heavy German resistance, the liberation of Western Europe unexpectedly bogs down between the canals around Leopoldsburg.
Field Marshal Montgomery devises a bold plan to end the war before Christmas and bring the Nazi regime to its knees. Exhausted from four years of brutal occupation and fierce fighting, the civilian population yearns to be freed. Will the tide finally turn?
liberation Garden
Liberation Garden literally and figuratively puts you ‘in touch with history’!
Liberation Garden brings history close enough to touch. The museum focuses on ordinary people and their personal stories of living through extraordinary circumstances. You’ll step into the shoes of occupying troops, resistance fighters and liberators, run for cover during a bombardment and sit in on a renowned general’s briefing. To top it off, you can fly aboard a genuine Spitfire in our thrilling virtual reality experience. For children, there’s an adventurous mission packed with exciting assignments. And you’ll meet historical individuals who share their personal stories with you when you touch their hands.
News
from and about our museum
Liberation Garden news
– A fine article appeared today on the Class website. Check out the article at this link, On class trip to Liberation Garden in Leopoldsburg – Class
• Last Thursday 27 July we received witnesses of the Liberation in Leopoldsburg and its surrounding areas. This way, we can write down their stories and preserve them to never forget.
It turned out to be a particularly beautiful afternoon, with many thanks to the witnesses and volunteers. Watch the report from TVL here.
• The Market Garden Cycling Route you can find here.An article about it has just appeared on the LRE Foundation page.
• Recordings made at our museum can be viewed here, starting at minute 06:46.
– We have also appeared in LEF, read this article via this link.
Support US
Become a friend of Liberation Garden
Support our museum, buy a Liberation pass!
A Liberation Pass costs € 35 per year and gives you unlimited visits to the museum during opening hours and free entry to all our museum events.
Make a donation
You can also support us by making an individual or corporate donation or by leaving a gift to the museum in your will. For more information, please contact us:contact@liberationgarden.be.
