How to get to Ginkelse Heide
This is important: the Municipality of Ede strongly recommends that visitors do not come by car.
Instead, take the train to Ede-Wageningen station. Free shuttle buses run between the station and Ginkelse Heide.
Train + free shuttle bus
From Ede-Wageningen station, follow the signs towards the shuttle buses at Akoesticum, next to the station.
Buses towards Ginkelse Heide run from 08:00 until 14:00. For the return journey, buses from the event towards Ede-Wageningen run from 08:30 until 16:30.
Keep in mind that the shuttle doesn't stop directly inside the event area. From the drop-off point, you'll still need to walk approximately 800 metres.
Coming by bike?
Cycling is another good option. Temporary bicycle parking provides space for more than 20,000 bikes, and you can cycle to the event from Ede, Arnhem and Renkum.
Coming by car?
Try to avoid it if possible.
Parking near the event is very limited and costs €6.50 for the day. The municipality wants to keep the limited spaces available primarily for people who have difficulty walking or cannot use public transport.
The N224 between the N304 junction and the A12 entrance will also be closed from 06:00 until 17:00 because of the event.
There is no Kiss & Ride area, and taxis cannot take visitors directly to the event grounds.
What should you bring?
You're spending several hours outdoors on a heath, so prepare for Dutch weather.
Comfortable shoes are a good idea, especially because you'll be walking across natural terrain. Check the weather before leaving and bring suitable rainwear or warm layers if needed.
A small folding chair is allowed if you'd rather not stand throughout the programme.
Most importantly, arrive early. With tens of thousands of visitors expected, public transport, shuttle buses and the best viewing areas can get busy.
What if the weather is bad?
The commemoration and other activities will continue as much as possible in bad weather.
However, parachute jumps depend on weather conditions. The organisation decides on the day whether it is safe for the parachutists to jump, meaning the airborne programme can change at short notice.
Keep an eye on the information screens and announcements at the event for the latest programme updates.
Why you should know about the Airborne commemorations as an international in the Netherlands
If you're new to the Netherlands, events like the Airborne Landings offer a very different way to discover Dutch history.
The Ginkelse Heide isn't just a beautiful piece of nature near Ede. More than 80 years ago, thousands of soldiers landed here as part of one of the largest Allied airborne operations of the Second World War.
Seeing parachutists descend over the same landscape today makes that history much easier to understand than simply reading about it.
But remember that, despite the aircraft, parachutes and demonstrations, the main purpose of the day is remembrance. The event honours those who fought during Operation Market Garden and reflects on the importance of freedom and peace today.
So if you're looking for something meaningful to do in the Netherlands this weekend, consider a trip to Ede.
And when those parachutes start appearing above the Ginkelse Heide, you'll be watching history being remembered in the place where it happened.
