Eighty years ago, parts of Brabant were freed from German occupation during World War II. Marking the beginning of liberation for the southern Netherlands. That day, paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division descended onto the Vlagheide, playing a crucial role in the region’s liberation.

The Vlagheide, known to the Americans as ‘Dropzone A,’ became a focal point of the operation, and the nearby village of Eerde was the first in North Brabant to be liberated. To mark this historic event, the municipality of Meierijstad held a series of military demonstrations on Tuesday, including paratrooper landings, reenacting the crucial moments from 80 years ago.

Along with the parachute demonstrations, American forces showcased modern military equipment, such as Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters, in collaboration with the 11th Airmobile Brigade, a Dutch rapid-response unit with bases in Schaarsbergen and Assen.

The parachute landings on the Vlagheide were a key moment in the liberation of southern Netherlands. Eerde proudly claims the title of the first village in North Brabant to be freed, and the events on Tuesday honored the brave paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division who played a major role in that victory.

However, not everything went according to plan during the reenactment. One of the American paratroopers, instead of landing on the designated grassy field, found himself in a nearby cornfield. After realizing the man was missing, authorities deployed a police drone to help locate him.

What followed was an unexpected twist. While the drone did eventually locate the paratrooper, it also uncovered something else hidden in the cornfield—an illicit cannabis plantation. The discovery of the plants added an unforeseen development to the day’s events, sparking both surprise and amusement among those present.

The ceremonies at the Vlagheide highlighted the strong ties between the Dutch and American forces, bonded by a shared history and the legacy of Operation Market Garden, with a touch of the unexpected thrown in.

Photos Jeroen Vogelaar aviationnews.eu