In September 1944, the quiet landscapes of northern Belgium and the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Gelderland became the stage for one of the most daring Allied operations of the Second World War: Operation Market Garden. This bold plan aimed to break through the German defenses along the Rhine and open a fast route straight into the heart of Nazi Germany. If successful, the war might have been over before Christmas. Conceived by British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, Market Garden was a gamble on speed and surprise.

The operation unfolded in two dramatic phases. Operation Market sent thousands of American, British, and Polish airborne troops parachuting behind enemy lines to seize crucial bridges over the Maas, Waal, and Rhine rivers. At the same time, Operation Garden launched a powerful ground advance, with the British 30th Corps racing north to relieve the airborne forces before German counterattacks could overwhelm them. The plan was ambitious—but fate had other ideas. Poor weather delayed vital reinforcements and supply drops, while German resistance proved far stronger than expected. Repeated counterattacks cut the narrow supply route, which soon earned the ominous nickname “Hell’s Highway.”

When Allied forces failed to hold the bridge at Arnhem, Market Garden entered history as the legendary “Bridge Too Far.” Today, this long-distance hiking route follows much of the famous Airborne Trail, allowing visitors to walk through history step by step. The journey begins in the Flemish town of Leopoldsburg, where, in the former Cinema Splendid, Lieutenant General Horrocks once revealed the plans for this daring operation. As you follow the trail north, the landscape tells the story of courage, hope, and sacrifice—making this route a must for history lovers and adventurous travelers alike.