I have long wanted to visit the Normandy beaches, but haven't made it yet. We won't have time on this trip, but we will have one full free day somewhere around Bruges or between Bruges and The Hague. Are there any WWII battlefields/towns/tours that would be worthwhile to visit while in that area?

If you have a car Dieppe, France is just across the Belgian border on the coast - in infamous Dieppe where Brits with their tales between their legs used every available ship and dingy to get besieged troops back to good ole England.

But besides that and me having biked along that coast dozens of times have never really seen anything along the coast here which was rather quiet I believe as the Allies surprisingly struck much farther south than many, including Hitler believed they would. You can see the odd bunker in the sand and that's about all I've found.

That was the site of a retreat - not an invasion - so not sure what you would find. (And why with their tales(sic) between their legs - facing a huge force much more heavily armed. Heard of the Blitzkreig?)

We found a lot of small museums and cemeteries in Belgium (but the eastern part) and Luxembourg.

Luxembourg was near the Battle of the Bulge - a bloody disaster for Allies as the casualty rate reached 60-70% or something as they were trapped in a bulge - so there are lots of things in eastern Beglium and in Luxembourg City or just outside it at Hamm is an american military cemetery where Gen George 'War is Hell" Patton is buried, being killed in a jeep crach shortly after the end of the war in Luxembourg - if I recall correctly.

Thank you both. We'll save this for the Normandy trip (whenever that might be)!

These might not be the only places but you might do a search of "band of brothers" and "map" on line to find their locations. If you have an interest in WWII and haven't seen that mini series or read the book you absolutely should. Both are excellent.

Not exactly between Brugge and Den Haag, but the Airborne Museum in Arnhem may be of interest;
http://www.airbornemuseum.nl/
The site of the famous 'bridge too far' battle for the bridge in Arnhem.

http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/...War%20Cemetery

I've been to the Overloon Military cemetery several times - it is near Arnhem - just south of it.

Also not near the Hague or Brugge is Overloon Liberty Park, site of a huge battle, and well worth a visit.

Near Maastrciht is the Margraten war cemetary and just over the border in Belgium is Eben Emael http://www.fort-eben-emael.be/en/.

Overloon is near Den Bosch, and south of Nijmegen. Quite a way from Arnhem.

Ginkelse Heide, near Ede is where the parachutists landed for Market Garden. Every year in September there are parachutists who jump there to mark it. Until fairly recently veterans jumped too!

Palenque - you're WWII history is a bit confused. You are confusing Dieppe for Dunkirk (which is where the British Expeditionary Force was heroically rescued).

Yes indeedy a proverbial brain f..t - dunkirk is just over the Belgian border but Dieppe is much farther along, right? Thanks for correcting me!

Dieppe was indeed the site of an invasion, a very costly and controversial test run in August, 1942, that left several Canadian regiments shot to bits, at the added cost of a lot of valuable Royal Air Force and Navy equipment and men. The military value of the experiences gained is hotly debated to this day. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieppe_Raid
and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieppe,_France
There was a monument installed a few years ago, partially supported by the Canadian national drink, Tim Hortons coffee.

We were in Belgium last year and had 2 great days touring WWII sites. We even stood in a foxhole in the Ardeness forest. Saw many neat places and great memorials. Had a private guide for 2 days, of someone who was a little boy then and remembers it clearly. E-mail me if interested in details: [email protected]