WWII Home Base & Tours

If you want to go to Bastogne, rent a car. The public transportation links are inconvenient, and the Battle of the Bulge Museum is outside of town. The museum is brand new and very well done--be sure to give yourself at least two hours there. If you have a relative who served during the battle, I would definitely hire a guide who can take you to the sites where he was stationed. I would not spend four days in Bastogne unless you are absolutely fanatic about the Battle of the Bulge.

You might want to combine Bastogne with places in the southern Netherlands which were part of the failed attempt to invade Germany--immortalized in "A Bridge Too Far." Arnhem and Eindhoven are supposed to have very good museums about that campaign. There is also a good WWII museum in Luxembourg if you don't want to drive all the way to Holland.

You need to do your homework now to have a successful trip. Get some good guidebooks, cruise the Internet, and talk to your family about what they might want to see. I visited a Belgian airbase where my dad was stationed during the battle. It is still open and run by the Belgian Air Force. I told them I was coming and got the royal treatment. The Belgians haven't forgotten and are very grateful for the sacrifices made by Allied soldiers to liberate their country. Visiting these places will be an unforgettable experience.

Thank you very much for the helpful information. We will be starting out in Amsterdam so I think we could visit Arnhem/Eindhoven before heading to Bastogne.

Thanks again.

Hi - My parents toured Bastogne a few years ago with Roby Clam and found him to be great. My grandfather was with the 9th Armored Division during the Battle of the Bulge and Roby tailored their day to be in locations where the 9th Armored was stationed. They stayed somewhere in Luxembourg.

I've also heard about a guide named Henri Mignon. I can't personally vouch for him either but met and talked to a WWII vet that was going to tour with him last year.

Good luck!

We were very pleased with the Hotel du Sud in Bastogne. Nothing fancy, but it has been renovated and is convenient to the main square. Easy parking, warm welcome, family run. We also used it as a home base for Bastogne and Luxembourg.

Thank for the great information. I will be sure to add the museum and memorial to our itinerary.

Thanks to all for your responses!

There is an amazing WWII museum in Diekirch, Luxembourg -- less than an hour from Bastogne. After the Battle of the Bulge, local farmers gathered up tanks, trucks, uniforms, weapons, etc. left in their fields and stored it all in their barns. At some point they decided to create this museum and display it all there. It's the most remarkable place, with everything from cigarette packages and bandages to parachutes and field kitchens. They created some life-size dioramas using actual uniforms, weapons, etc. Posted on the walls are letters and photos of Americans who fought in the battles around Diekirch. You could easily spend several hours here.

It's very moving to read the account of the parade in Diekirch after the town was liberated. Grateful citizens waved homemade 48-star US flags made from cut-up Nazi swastika flags. There was a big banner, still in the museum, that says "Welcome to our liberators." They love Americans in Luxembourg, which was gratifying.