History & Heritage
From Operation Market Garden to medieval cellars — Arnhem's layered past
A City Shaped by History
Arnhem carries the weight of history on every corner. The city was at the heart of one of the most daring airborne operations of World War II — Operation Market Garden — and has preserved that legacy with remarkable care.
Beyond the war, Arnhem's roots stretch back to the Middle Ages, with underground cellars, Gothic churches, and 18th-century estates that tell the story of a city that has been rebuilt and reimagined more than once.
PopularJohn Frost Bridge
Originally built between 1932 and 1935, replacing a floating bridge that had crossed the Rhine here since 1603, this was the furthest objective reached during Operation Market Garden. Lieutenant Colonel John Frost's 2nd Battalion held the northern end for four days before being overwhelmed. The bridge was then destroyed by Allied aircraft on 7 October 1944 to prevent its use by German reinforcements, and was rebuilt and reopened in 1948. It was officially renamed John Frostbrug on 17 December 1977. A memorial plaque at the northern end marks the spot where the defence was made.
PopularEusebius Church
Construction began in 1450 when Arnold, Duke of Guelders, laid the first stone; the tower was completed with its distinctive octagonal stone lantern in 1650. At 97 metres it remains the tallest building in Arnhem. The tower was completely destroyed by fire during the 1944 battle, and a full restoration supervised by architect Berend Tobia Boeyinga took until 1964 to complete. Today a glass elevator carries visitors to panoramic viewing platforms near the top. A small entry fee covers the ground floor exhibitions on the city's history; a separate ticket is required for the tower.
PopularNetherlands Open Air Museum
Established on 24 April 1912 and opened to the public on 13 July 1918 with just six relocated buildings, the museum now spans 44 hectares on the former Waterberg estate at the edge of Arnhem. It houses over 100 authentic structures spanning five centuries: farmhouses, windmills, a working forge, a village, and workshops relocated from across the country. Period-costumed actors and demonstrators bring the exhibits to life throughout the day. With more than 550,000 visitors annually it consistently ranks among the most visited museums in the Netherlands. Allow at least a half-day.
Airborne Museum Hartenstein
One of Europe's finest WWII museums, housed in the hotel that served as British headquarters during the Battle of Arnhem — opened as a museum in 1978.
Airborne Museum at the Bridge
Opened in 2017, this free museum steps from the John Frost Bridge tells the battle through the personal stories of three men who died here.
Historische Kelders Arnhem
Thirty-six medieval cellars beneath the city centre, built from the 13th to 15th centuries for merchant storage — rediscovered in the 1990s and opened in 2002.
Duivelshuis
A 16th-century tower house on Koningstraat — rebuilt for military commander Maarten van Rossum in 1543 and one of the earliest Renaissance facades in the Netherlands.
Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery
A Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Oosterbeek holding 1,684 Commonwealth graves from the 1944 Battle of Arnhem — open 24 hours, every day of the year.