WHEN THEN WAS NOW — EASY COMPANY IN THE NETHERLANDS
Band of Brothers in Holland
From the drop zones near Eindhoven to The Island and the Crossroads battle — follow Easy Company through Operation Market Garden.
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Easy Company became world famous through the book and television series Band of Brothers. In September 1944 the men of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment landed in the Netherlands as part of the 101st Airborne Division.
Visiting the actual places adds geography, scale and context that no screen can provide.
The television story is only part of the history
Easy Company landed near Eindhoven and fought as part of the much larger Operation Market Garden. After the initial advance, the division moved north into the area between Arnhem and Nijmegen known as The Island.
Here Easy Company defended the front and fought the famous Crossroads action associated with Dick Winters.
A private journey connects the familiar scenes with the wider operation: roads, villages, river lines, neighbouring units and the decisions that shaped what happened.
Follow Easy Company on the ground
Drop zones and Eindhoven
Start where the 101st Airborne entered the Netherlands and place Easy Company within the opening phase of Market Garden.
The Island
Move north into the river area between Nijmegen and Arnhem where the division held the front after the operation stalled.
The Crossroads
Stand in the landscape of the Crossroads battle and understand the action in relation to the roads, dikes and neighbouring positions.
BEYOND THE SERIES
Use the familiar story as a doorway into the real one
The series is an excellent starting point, but a private journey allows us to separate dramatisation, memory and documented history where necessary.
If you are especially interested in one man, episode or location, tell me in advance and I can build the route around that question.
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“Martin provided an excellent full day custom tour of key historical points for the Band of Brothers and of Operation Market Garden in WWII. Many of the locations were a bit off the beaten path.”
Frequently Asked Questions
This page is for people who know the series, the history, or both. The level of detail can be adapted accordingly.
Do I need to have watched Band of Brothers?
No. I can explain the Easy Company story from the beginning. If you know the series well, we can spend more time comparing the familiar scenes with the real locations.
Can we visit the Crossroads battlefield?
Yes. It is one of the key locations on a Band of Brothers day in the Netherlands.
Is this the same as a Market Garden tour?
Not exactly. Easy Company was part of Market Garden, but this journey focuses specifically on the 101st Airborne and Easy Company while keeping the wider operation in view.
Can the day include Arnhem?
Yes, if time and your priorities allow. Arnhem is a different part of Market Garden, but it can provide useful wider context.
Can this become a multi-day Band of Brothers journey?
Yes. There is also a longer private itinerary following Easy Company through several European campaigns.
Follow the story beyond the screen
Tell me which episodes, men or locations matter most to you, and I will shape the journey around them.