Airborne Museum ‘Hartenstein’
Photo: Own work — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Located in the former British headquarters during the Battle of Arnhem, the museum offers exhibits on the battle’s history, including the Airborne Experience.
Planning your visit
Hotel Hartenstein was the British 1st Airborne Division's headquarters during the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944 — Operation Market Garden, the attempt to seize the Rhine bridges and end the war by Christmas, which failed at the last bridge.
Around 10,000 airborne troops landed; roughly 2,000 got back across the river. The museum occupies the building they held under siege, and the grounds still show slit trenches.
The exhibitions cover the operation, the fighting and the Dutch civilians caught in it, using personal accounts, equipment and vehicles. The Airborne Experience in the basement is a walk-through reconstruction with sound and effects.
Oosterbeek's war cemetery nearby holds the Allied dead, and local schoolchildren have laid flowers on the graves every year since 1945.
The bridge at Arnhem is a short distance away.
Allow two hours. The main booking is an entry ticket. Current availability is listed below.
Before you book
Where is Airborne Museum ‘Hartenstein’?
Airborne Museum ‘Hartenstein’ is in Oosterbeek, Netherlands. The map on this page marks its exact location.
How long should I allow for Airborne Museum ‘Hartenstein’?
Allow two hours. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
Do I need to book Airborne Museum ‘Hartenstein’ in advance?
Tickets can be bought on the door at quiet times, but booking ahead fixes the date and avoids the queue at busy ones. Live availability is shown on this page.