Wageningen

Wageningen is a small university town on the north bank of the Rhine, 11 km west of Arnhem and 33 minutes by bus. It holds a singular place in Dutch history: on 5 May 1945, German commander Generaloberst Johannes Blaskowitz signed the capitulation of German forces in the Netherlands at Hotel de Wereld on the central square — the act that ended the five-year occupation. The hotel still operates and houses historical exhibits. Each year on 5 May, Wageningen hosts one of the largest Liberation Day celebrations in the Netherlands, drawing over 100,000 visitors.

The National Liberation Monument stands on 5 Mei Plein directly opposite Hotel de Wereld. German commander Blaskowitz signed the capitulation in the presence of I Canadian Corps commander Lieutenant-General Charles Foulkes and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. Hotel de Wereld remains open as a hotel and restaurant; the room where the signing took place can be visited.

Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is one of the world's leading agricultural universities and the anchor of the European Food Valley — a cluster of food innovation companies centred on the campus. The Belmonte Arboretum on the university grounds holds the largest collection of rhododendrons in the Benelux (1,500 species) and is free to visit. The World Soil Museum on campus is also free, open Wednesdays 13:30–17:30.