Visiting the museum "Bevrijdende Veugels" in Best, Netherlands

 In the Netherlands there are various museums with exhibitions about the Second World War and specifically the 1944/45 period.
As we were never have been to this museum in Best, the fact that there was a modelling show plus some (WW2) wargamesdisplays held in the museum it was reason enoough to go there. And it was simply very good.

The museum is housed in some barracks situated on the terrain were in 1944 paratroopers landed to start operation Market Garden.
It includes a lot of real material of that period (airplanes, rolling stock), great dioramas of models and lifelike maquettes.

As said, during this day there were a lot of modelling clubs showing their various models plus some wargamers doing what they suppose to do; wargaming. All that was placed in between the real museum stuff; a great combination.

The pictures underneath show a part of what was visible. We had a great day and, when you are in the neigbourhood, visit the museum. It's worth your time.

Starting with some models of the museum

Some of the museums' "real" things

And of course some pictures of the modelling and wargaming event

A WW2 Battle: Operation Veritable 1945

 We were invited to take part in a WW2 battle with in total some 10 participants and organised by Ludwig van Dijk, using 20mm figures/tanks and Rapid Fire rules.

The object of the game was the "Operation Veritable 1945" and it was a 2 days exercise.
Ludwig made all the splendid terrain and provided, together with some others, all the neccessary equipment (figures and tanks). 

It were 2 great days of gaming and although both of us didn't know the rules (well, we read them various times!) but we were chapperoned by more experienced games: big thanks to them!   

Some pictures underneath but Ludwig has more on the facebook site
 Friends who like Rapid Fire WW2 Wargame Rules 

As said, two great days of gaming, a lot of laughter, meeting new (and some known) gamers and a ot of thanks to Ludwig for the organisation.
When is the next time?

A French Revolutionairy game at home

A couple of pictures of the battle of the fictional 1793 FR battle of Valkenheide between a french force and a Dutch-Austrian force on our 6*4 foot home table.
Rules : Over the hills

The lightning isn't great, sorry for that.

A happy new Year plus scoring some books!

A belately happy and healthy New Years wish from the Alde Garde (Peter and Jan). 
We hope that you enjoy your wargames, paint succesfully all the figures of your lead mountain and score some cheap books, figures and other models during the coming year.

And for those who missed the resurected Crisis in 2024; Crisis is back  in 2025 and will take place on November 1st 2025 in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium; the same venue as in 2024. 

Just great and hope to see you there!

And to start with scoring some cheap books: there is every year in January a nice book auction nearby where sometimes you can buy historical books very cheaply (if you are lucky and on time!).

This year Jan bought some 4 books for 8 Euro in total (see picture underneath); all in Dutch but nice additions to his library.

Left upper corner: D'Artagnan at the siege of Maastricht in 1673 where he met his death.
Upper right about the battle of Bouvines.
Lower left about the history of the Dutch field artillery (titled: Vuur in beweging or "Fire in Movement"; sadly mostly about the 20th century and lower right a book about the Battle of Lafelt 1747. 
Now finding the time to read!

Autumn session of the Dutch Society for Model figures

Totaly forgot to put some pictures of the Autumn session on the blog, so here it goes.

The Dutch Society for model Figures (Nederlandse Stichting voor Modelfiguren) has two times a year a meeting for members and they try to keep it in model/historical related locations but mostly in museums.

This autumn meeting was held in the Museum of the Corps National Reserve of the Dutch army (in Dutch: KorpsNationale Reserve). The Nationale Reserve consists of about 3.000 volunteers who guard and secure objects on Dutch territory. The members fulfill their military functions besides their normal, civil, jobs.

Although small, their museum is very nice with various objects about their history, uniforms and functions. 

As Alde Garde we took with us a 28mm game situated in the first part of the 80 years war. Rules used were Pikemans Lament.

Some pictures of museum and game; starting with the museum and after that about our game.