On Friday afternoon, 27 October, the first tanks of the The South Alberta Regiment The Grote Markt in Bergen op Zoom. Although the German troops were still on the north side of the city, the inhabitants of Bergen gave their liberators an exuberant welcome. In the evening hours, the first exchanges of fire began between the Canadians and the German paratroopers of the 6th Parachute Jaeger Regiment who had settled in the houses and buildings on the north side of the Zoom, a former, medieval peat canal. Driving the enemy from these positions was to prove a difficult job and led to very fierce street fighting that would eventually last three days.

Here are a couple of photos showing the extensive damage to the houses on Noordsingel. Due to the damage, the houses have been partially rebuilt and sometimes replaced, making a good then/now overlap photo impossible.

Photo then: October 1944, unknown photographer. Photo now, Maarten van ’t Hof, 22-07-2024