Viola Scalacci

Promoting Liberation Route Europe Through Key Travel Trade Events Across Europe

Posted on by Viola Scalacci

In recent weeks, the LRE Foundation team has been actively engaging with key players in the tourism and travel industry, taking part in several major networking events to strengthen partnerships and raise awareness about the Liberation Route Europe trails and destinations. Through these events, we continue to promote the special combination of history, remembrance, and outdoor exploration that defines our project. 

Connecting at the CycleSummit 2025 

From 4 to 7 October, our Project Manager Emme Johnson attended the CycleSummit 2025 at the historic Council of Constance, right by the beautiful Lake Constance, where Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland meet.  

This annual event brings together more than 200 cycling tour operators from across Europe and beyond. It offers an inspiring setting for networking, exchanging ideas, and exploring new collaborations, perfectly located along the 270 km Lake Constance Cycle Path. 

Emme spent these days introducing tour operators to the Liberation Route Europe network of hiking and cycling trails, highlighting its potential to enrich cycling itineraries with stories of remembrance right where they happened. 

The Global European Marketplace (GEM) 2025 

The LRE Foundation is also taking part in ETOA’s Global European Marketplace 2025, one of the most influential annual events in the travel industry. 

With more than 800 travel industry professionals participating, GEM serves as a key platform for networking, business exchange, and collaboration. Our Project Manager Emme Johnson and Project and Communication Manager Gert-Jan Jacobs are representing the Foundation at both the GEM Workshop on 31 October at the Intercontinental London – The O2, and the GEM Conference on 3 November at The Mermaid Theatre. Their participation helps position the Liberation Route Europe trails within a broader network of European tourism partners and industry leaders. 

Adventure Europe 2025 

Finally, the Foundation will join Adventure Europe 2025, an online B2B event organised by ETOA – European Tourism Association and The Adventure Connection. This marketplace connects European and North American tour operators with suppliers offering authentic, off-the-beaten-track experiences, including outdoor activities, accommodation, and travel services. 

Through these events, the LRE Foundation continues to broaden its network and foster meaningful collaborations. Each partnership helps raise the profile of the Liberation Route Europe network within the international tourism landscape, ensuring that the stories of liberation remain part of the journeys people take across Europe today.  

Looking ahead, we are excited to organise the LREXPO during the LRE Forum 2026 in Arnhem and Nijmegen, an occasion for all LRE Foundation Members and Partners to connect with representatives from the travel trade industry, including European and North American tour operators. 
For more information about the LRE Forum, click here. 

Applications Open: Join the PPSF Training Programme on Sustainable WWII Heritage 

Posted on by Viola Scalacci

The Preserving the Past, Securing the Future (PPSF) project is now accepting applications for its international training programme on sustainability for WWII remembrance and cultural heritage institutions. This programme is aimed at professionals working within cultural heritage and remembrance tourism organisations, such as heritage sites, interpretation centres and museums. This is a unique opportunity to gain practical tools, connect with peers across Europe, and lead your organisation toward a more resilient and responsible future.  

The PPSF Training Programme will equip participants with the knowledge, tools, and network to embed environmental, social, and economic sustainability into your mission and operations. Through a curated combination of e‑learning modules, in‑person workshops, study visits, and peer-to-peer learning and mentoring, you will gain practical strategies and inspiration to lead meaningful change. 

  1. E‑Learning Modules (prerequisite to participate in the in-person trainings) 
    These three modules will cover: 
  • Environmental responsibility and climate action at heritage sites 
  • Social inclusion, community engagement, and accessibility 
  • Economic resilience, governance, and sustainable business models 

These self-paced courses create a shared baseline of understanding and readiness to efficiently participate in the in-person trainings. 

  1. In-Person Workshops and Study Visits  
    Participants will gather for three in‑person trainings across Europe: 
  • 16–17 February 2026, Caen, France with a focus on environmental sustainability and astudy visit to Juno Beach Centre. 
  • 11–12 June 2026, Lucca, Italy with a focus on economic sustainability and institutional planning. 

Why participate? 

  • Ensure Long-Term Relevance and Integrity by strengthening your resilience through sustainability. 
  • Engage Visitors Through Sustainability and increase visitor satisfaction and loyalty. 
  • Strengthen Staff Skills by equipping your team with practical sustainability knowledge and tools. 
  • Make Your Efforts Visible and Impactful to ensure your initiatives are seen, appreciated, and credible. 
  • Boost Access to EU/national Funding, Grants and Partnerships by demonstrating your commitment to sustainability. 

How to Apply 

Applications are now open! For more information and to sign up see here.

Do not miss this opportunity to shape the future of your institution. Apply today and be a part of the sustainable change in the WWII remembrance and cultural heritage sector. 

The LRE Forum returns in 2026, celebrating its 10th edition in Arnhem and Nijmegen 

Posted on by Viola Scalacci

The LRE Foundation is delighted to announce that the LRE Forum 2026 will take place from 9 to 12 March across two historic cities — Arnhem and Nijmegen — in the Province of Gelderland. This 10th edition will give participants the chance to experience both cities, each deeply connected to Europe’s liberation history and to the ongoing work of remembrance and education.

The event is made possible thanks to the close collaboration with the municipalities of Arnhem and Nijmegen and the Province of Gelderland, who have confirmed their commitment and enthusiasm to welcome the event to their locations. This partnership reflects our shared mission to promote remembrance, education, and the preservation of Europe’s WWII heritage. 

A Diverse and Inspiring Programme 

The LRE Forum 2026 will offer a rich and engaging programme designed to foster dialogue, connection, and reflection within the fields of WWII heritage, remembrance tourism, and history education. 

The Forum in Nijmegen will open with a City Walk, offering participants the opportunity to discover the history and heritage of the Netherlands’ oldest city. Nijmegen will also host the Welcome Cocktail for members of the LREF network and, for the first time, the Youth Forum — a two-day programme inviting young participants to reflect on WWII history, remembrance, and how lessons from the past can guide us in addressing today’s global challenges. 

In Arnhem, participants will take part in the LRE Members Seminar, the Conference, the Gala Dinner, and the EXPO – key events that will bring together professionals, partners, and remembrance organisations from across Europe. These gatherings will provide a platform for sharing ideas, building partnerships, and discussing the future of remembrance and heritage tourism. 

A Milestone Edition in the Heart of Gelderland 

This 10th edition holds particular significance. Not only does it celebrate a decade of the LRE Forum, but it also brings the event for the first time to the Gelderland region, the birthplace of the Liberation Route Europe — the flagship project that laid the foundation for what is today the LRE Foundation. 

Since its creation, the LRE Foundation has evolved into an international remembrance organisation, active in historical research, educational initiatives, and cross-border projects promoting the preservation and interpretation of Europe’s 20th-century history. Hosting the Forum in Arnhem and Nijmegen represents both a return to our roots and an opportunity to highlight the region’s central role in the stories of liberation and post-war reconstruction. 

Save the date 

We invite all members, partners, and stakeholders to mark their calendars for 9–12 March 2026 and start planning their journey to Gelderland, easily accessible by train or via Amsterdam and Eindhoven airports. 

Registration will open in November, and we will also share a list of affiliated hotels in Arnhem offering special rates for Forum participants. 

We look forward to welcoming you to Arnhem and Nijmegen in March 2026 for a memorable and inspiring 10th edition of the LRE Forum. 

Art of Remembrance Artist Workshop: a Creative Journey in Progress

Posted on by Viola Scalacci

Between 7 and 8 October, the Art of Remembrance artists came together in Brussels for a mid-point workshop part of the EU-funded project led by Tempora and developed together with a consortium of six partners including the LRE Foundation. The workshop brought together the project’s artists, who exchanged first impressions on their host sites and residencies, shared the progress of their artistic explorations, and began shaping ideas for the upcoming traveling exhibition. 

All four artists have by now spent the first residency period at their respective host sites and were able to report on their experiences there. Gail Ritchie from Northern Ireland was chosen for the History Centre La Coupole near Saint-Omer in France. Finnish visual artist Juhana Moisander realises his creative project at the Sybir Memorial Museum in Białystok, Poland. Rebekka Bauer, a German artist experienced in installations is working with the Nuto Revelli Foundation in Paraloup, a hamlet serving as a refuge for WWII resistance fighters in Piedmont, Italy. French photographer Raphaël Dallaporta is in residence at the Bastogne War Museum in Belgium. 

During the workshop, the artists reflected on their journeys so far and highlighted their experiences engaging with local communities, attending events, and meeting students. Each artist presented the early stages of their work, offering glimpses into the diverse approaches and themes emerging from the residencies. The day continued with collaborative discussions led by Tempora’s Isabelle Benoît, the project’s curator, focusing on the conceptual direction of the future exhibition. 

On October 8, after a productive day of presentations and exhibition planning, the group visited the House of European History. There, Professor Pieter Lagrou from Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) sparked a thought-provoking exchange on public history and the importance of developing new narratives to make history more accessible and engaging for diverse audiences. The visit continued with a guided tour of the museum’s temporary exhibition, ‘Presence of the Past – A European Album,’ led by curator Simina Bădică. The artists had the chance to draw inspiration for the traveling exhibition from this display of pictures that takes a fresh and bold perspective on collective memory and its cultural expressions. 

Keep an eye on the Art of Remembrance website for more updates as this creative journey unfolds.  

A glimpse into the Liberation Route Europe Youth Program in September 

Posted on by Viola Scalacci

During September, other three successful youth exchanges were carried out in the framework of the Active Remembrance Youth Program, involving young history enthusiasts from all over Europe. Participants had the chance to connect with stories, places and monuments of the Second World War in countries ranging from the Netherlands, Belgium and France to Italy. Here are some highlights of the trips. 

The Operation Market Garden exchange

The first exchange, held in the Netherlands and Belgium in the second week of September, revolved around the theme of Operation Market Garden, which took place from 17 to 25 September 1944. Participants explored the Liberation Garden Museum’s immersive exhibits, including trench installations, and visited the Commonwealth War Cemeteries in Leopoldsburg, Belgium. The next day, they toured the Nationaal Monument Kamp Vught in the Netherlands from a tour guide and local resident. The site served as the only SS concentration camp outside Nazi Germany during Second World War. The Freedom Museum Groesbeek revealed lesser-known perspectives of the war, offering an exhibition on Indigenous liberators from the US and Canada.  

Over the following days, participants visited the Airborne War Cemetery in Arnhem, where 1,754 British soldiers are buried. Continuing their adventure, they explored the Airborne Museum Oosterbeek, housed in the old Villa Hartenstein, which served as the headquarters of the British 1st Airborne Division during the war. After delving into the Airborne Experience, an immersive display of airborne soldiers’ journeys during Operation Market Garden, participants ended their journey at the final location of the operation, where soldiers were evacuated after the Battle of Arnhem. There, they had the chance to hike on a part of LRE’s Perimeter Route. 

Northen France and Belgium Liberation

The second exchange in the fourth week of September traced the route of the Allied Forces in Northern France and Belgium. The programme started in La Coupole, a former Nazi bunker and base for launching V2 rockets, which today serves as a historical and scientific museum in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France. The centre provides visitors with innovative tools, such as Histopads, to discover the site’s history of forced labour, nuclear weapons and war machinery. 

Moving on to Dunkirk, participants explored the Operation Dynamo Museum, gaining insights into soldiers’ and civilians’ experiences during this pivotal evacuation. A guided tour along the beach highlighted the operation’s role in rescuing over 338,000 Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk between 26 May and 4 June 1940. The group then visited the Mons Memorial Museum in Belgium, to learn about the city’s strategic importance in past wars. The programme concluded at the House of European History in Brussels, where participants drew inspiration by participatory youth projects reflecting on contemporary European identity.  

Resistance and diverse war experiences in Italy

The last youth exchange, themed ‘Resistance and diverse war experiences in Italy’, took place in the last week of September and focused on stories and places of the Italian campaign, conducted by the Allies from 1943 until the liberation of Northern Italy in 1945. Participants from ten different European countries met at the EcoMuseo Office in Rome, to learn about the city’s wartime history, followed by a visit to the Historical Museum of Liberation. The next day, they visited the Ardeatine Caves Mausoleum, a memorial commemorating the massacre on 23 and 24 March 1944 and had the chance to hear a moving testimony from a victim’s daughter. The stay in Rome concluded with a guided tour of key sites linked to the Fascist regime and the Second World War.  

Next, participants travelled to the German cemetery of Futa Pass in Firenzuola, Tuscany. Standing on what used to be the German and Italian defensive ‘Gothic Line’, the cemetery houses the graves of over 30,000 German soldiers who fell in Northern Italy. The group also spent a day at the Monte Sole Historical Park, a site that witnessed the biggest civilian massacre by the Nazis in the country, perpetrated from 29 September to 5 October 1944. The programme ended with the participation to a ‘Floor Vectors of Memory’ installation on this site.

Seven new Liberation Route Europe themed routes in Normandy 

Posted on by Viola Scalacci

The LRE Foundation, in collaboration with  LRE France, has officially launched seven new themed routes in Normandy. The project is part of the development of the Liberation Route Europe network, and its trails traverse cities and towns in Northwest France. 

The idea behind the project is to shed light on the stories of battles, civilians and cities affected by the end of the Battle of Normandy, as well as less known sites that are often left out from the WWII memorial landscape in France. By coupling military histories with the realities of citizens, the routes illuminate a social and urban perspective to the war beyond the binary of victories and defeats. They also enrich the existing trails along the Landing Beaches with new paths through inland cities and towns such as Le Havre, Caen, Cherbourg, Sainte-Mére-Église, and Saint-Lô.  

‘This region is one of the most important in terms of preserving the memory of the Second World War, and today marks an important step towards promoting history and making it accessible to as many people as possible.,’ said Isabelle Lebreton, Director of LRE France. ‘Visitors will be able to discover and explore this history in a new way.’ 

One themed route from the same project – Arromanches-les-Bains & Mulberry Harbour – was already launched in 2024, and now joins these newly introduced routes: 

The overall LRE Normandy project will include the creation of new pieces of historical content, ranging from Vectors of Memory to podcasts and communication tools, in order to offer a multimodal way to experience the trails and learn about Normandy’s histories that unfolded in the shadow of key WWII events.

In addition to the key partner LRE France, the trails have been made possible thanks to the support of the  Normandy Region, the French Ministry of Armed Forces and the National Fund for Regional Planning and Development.  

All routes’ information and related stories are freely accessible via the Liberation Route Europe website  and  app, which offer interactive maps, historical insights, and practical tools to help hikers plan their journey and connect with the shared history of Europe’s liberation.  

Farewell Interview with Ed Kronenburg: Reflecting on Four Years as Chair of the LRE Foundation Supervisory Board

Posted on by Viola Scalacci

After four years of dedicated service, Ed Kronenburg is stepping down from his role as Chair of the Supervisory Board of the LRE Foundation. A distinguished diplomat, with a career that included serving as the Dutch Ambassador to Paris and Beijing as well as Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ed brought his international experience, vision, and commitment to remembrance to the Foundation. 

Since first encountering the LREF in Normandy in 2014, he has supported its growth into a leading European organisation in the field WWII heritage and remembrance. As he prepares to pass the torch, we asked him to reflect on his journey with the LRE Foundation and the moments that left the greatest mark. 

Your career as a senior Dutch diplomat has been remarkable. How did you first become involved with the LRE Foundation, and how does the work of the Foundation resonate with you? 

I first became familiar with the work of the LRE Foundation in June 2014 during the 70th commemoration of D-Day in Normandy. There, it was announced that the initiative that originated in the Netherlands in the region of Arnhem and Nijmegen would be broadened to cover also liberation routes in other European countries. A great idea that has been successfully implemented in the years thereafter. 

Since you took on the role of Chair in February 2021, the Foundation has expanded significantly, now having seven offices and members and partners in 15 European countries. Looking back, what do you see as the biggest challenges, and which achievements stand out most to you? 

We owe this growth in no small part to the relentless efforts of our director Rémi Praud, and his staff to raise funds and to professionalise the LRE Foundation. It is now an important, well-known and established organisation in the domain of WWII commemoration activities, attracting and involving both young and old in its initiatives. 

For me it was therefore a pleasure and an honour to be associated with the LRE Foundation as chairman of the Supervisory Board over the past four years, seeing the organisation grow and taking its rightful place in many countries in Europe as a contributor to the need for constantly remembering and paying tribute to the sacrifies made by so many in WWII and especially conveying this message to the younger generations against the backdrop of armed conflict once again haunting our continent. 

During our annual LRE Forum, it was always very rewarding to see how much the work of the LRE Foundation was appreciated and how regions from different countries wanted to join the projects. It was especially moving to hear survivors from concentration camps or military veterans giving there often bone-chilling testimonies of deep suffering, great courage and unbreakable spirit and resistance in overcoming their plights. 

Your diplomatic work often involved building bridges across countries and cultures. How did that experience shape the way you approached leading an international organisation like the LRE Foundation? 

My diplomatic work always meant trying to bridge the differences between countries, positions and people. Trying to find common solutions whilst respecting each other’s background, cultural identity and historic origins, always on the basis of mutual respect. These principles are especially important when addressing past conflict situations, trying to use the past to forge together a better future on the basis of common values and norms. This is what the LRE Foundation is all about, so I really felt that my professional experience served me well in working for the LRE Foundation. 

Of all your experiences with the LRE Foundation, was there a particular person, place, or moment that left a lasting impression on you? 

One of the moments that left a deep impression on me and that I will always remember, occurred during the dinner at the LRE Forum this year in Krakow. On my right was Tania Szabo, the daugther of war hero Violette Szabo who worked as an agent for British Special Operations Executive and who was caught during her second mission into France and executed in the Ravensbruck concentration camp. On my left was Karolina Maczek-Skillen, granddaughter of the famous Polish General Stanislaw Maczek, who played such a crucial role in the liberation of the Netherlands. 

Their experience and their moving family stories made a deep impression on me, demonstrating once more how crucial it is to remember, to convey what happened in the past, to raise awareness thereof, hoping that future generations will be spared the terrible ordeal of war and conflict. 

Launch of New Scottish Highlanders Cycling Route as Part of Liberation Route Europe in Loon op Zand, Tilburg and Vught 

Posted on by Viola Scalacci

Today, Friday, September 5, a new cycling route was launched in the municipalities of Loon op Zand, Tilburg and Vught: the fourth in the series of Scottish Highlanders Cycling Routes, part of the international Liberation Route Europe network. 

Developed in collaboration with the municipalities of Loon op Zand, Tilburg and Vught, the 51-kilometer route takes cyclists through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the region, including the National Park Loonse en Drunense Duinen. Along the way, 11 Floor Vectors mark locations where history unfolded, commemorating the role of the Scottish Highland Division during the liberation of the Netherlands in World War II. 

Like the other Scottish Highlanders Cycling Routes, launched earlier this year, the new trail is designed to combine outdoor activity with local history. It follows in the footsteps of the Scottish Highlanders who fought to liberate this part of the Netherlands, shedding light on their experiences and the stories of civilians who lived through those events. 

The launch was celebrated with a group cycle along part of the route, giving participants a chance to discover the landscape and learn more about the history it holds. 

With this new route, the series now offers four interconnected cycling trails across North Brabant, each highlighting a different chapter in the story of the Scottish Highlanders’ advance. 

Wout van Aalst, Project Officer at the LRE Foundation, emphasized the importance of this milestone:

“It is a great satisfaction to have completed the project by adding this last route in Loon op Zand, Tilburg and Vught to the three previous ones in Heusden, Waalwijk, Meierijstad, Boxtel and Sint-Michielsgestel. Together, these trails form a meaningful way to explore both the landscape and the history of the Scottish Highlanders’ contribution to the liberation of the Netherlands.” 

The full route and its stories are available on the Liberation Route Europe website and app, making it easy for visitors to navigate the trail and engage with the history along the way.

Supervisory Board Update: a new member, and a fond farewell 

Posted on by Viola Scalacci

The LRE Foundation announces a change within its International Supervisory Board, the body that oversees the Foundation’s management, activities, and financial accountability. 

After several years of valuable service, Herre Dijkema is stepping down from his position as a Board Member. Throughout his mandate, Herre contributed his time, knowledge and strategic thinking with remarkable dedication, helping guide the Foundation through key stages of development and international growth. 

As we look ahead, we’re pleased to welcome Jorrit Volkers as the newest member of the Board.

Jorrit is a Dutch executive with a legal and tax background and significant boardroom experience. He has held leadership roles in various foundations and international organizations, dedicated to economic and cultural development. He brings a broad perspective and a strong sense of civic engagement, qualities that will enrich the work of the Board moving forward.

Rémi Praud, Managing Director of the LRE Foundation, commented on the transition: 

“Herre has been a thoughtful and steady presence on our Board. We deeply appreciate the time and attention he has devoted to the Foundation over the years – always generous, always constructive. While our formal collaboration comes to an end, we know his support will not be lacking. At the same time, we are pleased to welcome Jorrit to the Board. His expertise and strategic mindset will be valuable as we continue to grow across Europe.” 

Moments of transition like this are part of the Foundation’s strength. They bring fresh ideas while staying rooted in the long-term vision that connects our network, our mission, and the people behind it. 

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