For Freedom Museum

Om museet

The For Freedom Museum in Ramskapelle tells the story of the Zwin region and West-Zeeuws-Vlaanderen during the Second World War, between 1940 and 1944, and the liberation that followed. The basis of the collection goes back to Dennis Jones, a British veteran from Normandy who married a girl from Knokke-Heist in 1947. His wedding uniform became the first item in the collection. His sons Danny and Freddy Jones expanded the collection and organised three exhibitions at the Scharpoord cultural centre between 1984 and 1994.

The municipal school of Ramskapelle from 1876, with the associated town hall, was restored between 2005 and 2007 for the museum. The displays with scenes and dioramas were set up under the direction of artist Pierre Verbreyt. The museum officially opened its doors on 25 April 2009. Many Canadian families donated the uniforms of their late fathers and grandfathers; the mannequins in the dioramas each tell a personal story.

New parts were added later: in 2022 the exhibition Monty's Men about the Allied soldiers of the 21st Army Group and the liberation of the Zwin region, in 2023 Wings For Freedom with excavated aircraft remains, and in 2024 a covered terrace and the Frans Desmidt Hall. Peace and tolerance are the messages the museum wants to convey.

Højdepunkter

• Dioramas with uniforms and mannequins on the occupation and liberation of the Zwin region (1940-1944)
• Monty's Men: tribute to the Allied 21st Army Group, with a large collection of insignia
• Wings For Freedom: excavated aircraft remains, in cooperation with BAHAAT
• Audio tour in four languages with lifelike background sounds
• Museum café with covered terrace and a shop with a WWII theme

Permanente udstillinger

• Uniformen en diorama’s – Dioramas with mannequins in original uniforms show the regional history from 1940 to 1944; many uniforms were donated by Canadian families.
• Monty’s Men – Tribute to the Allied soldiers of the 21st Army Group under Field Marshal Montgomery, with an extensive collection of insignia and dioramas on the liberation of the Zwin region.
• Wings For Freedom – Exhibition on the air war of the Second World War, built around excavated aircraft remains in cooperation with the Belgian Aviation History Association.

Grundlagt

2009

Entrépriser & rabatter

The Museumpas is not valid.

Tilgængelighed

• Kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator: ingen oplysninger
• Handicaptoilet: ingen oplysninger
• Handicapparkering: ingen oplysninger
• Servicehunde tilladt: ingen oplysninger
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

The museum states that it is accessible to wheelchair users, with adapted facilities and help from staff. For hard-of-hearing visitors, the text of the audio guide can be followed on screen.

Børn og familie

Children up to 6 enter free; for children aged 7 to 12 the audio guide is included in the price.

Transport & parkering

By car via the A11, exit 19 towards Heist on the Heistlaan, then the turn-off to Ramskapelle.

Service & spisesteder

• Café
• Museumsbutik

The museum café has a terrace and a covered, heated terrace. The museum shop sells books, DVDs, authentic items, scale models and souvenirs with a WWII theme.

Arrangementer & udlejning

Museet har ikke offentliggjort oplysninger om dette.

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