Introduction - The Battlefield Explorer Tours

My name is Joris Nieuwint, I’m from the Netherlands and since 2012 I have been a tour guide on the battlefields of Western Europe! For the past fourteen years I have been a resident of Veghel and before that I have lived in Arnhem for almost twenty years. Living virtually on top of the Operation Market Garden battlefields meant that I always had a massive interest in them, and I have been studying the battles since as long as I can remember.

In 2012 I have taken up guiding and have taken many individuals, groups small and large, relatives of veterans, schools, and military groups on tours.

In 2018 I joined the International Guild of Battlefield Guides and began the accreditation process which I completed in October 2020. This earned me Accredited Member Badge number 112 and on top of that I was awarded the “David Chandler Award” for the best Above Standard presentation of an Assignment 6 of that year.

YouTube

Because not everybody is able to go on a battlefield tour I’ve started a YouTube channel. On this channel, I post virtual battlefield tours of places that interest me, stories that I want to tell, locations that are otherwise hidden and events that I attend. Recently I started a new series called “Dodge Adventures” in which my Dodge plays an important part.

If you are interested in taking a tour with me I recommend taking a look: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBattlefieldExplorer

Other WWII interests

In 2014 and 2019 I have been involved in organizing the Operation Market Garden events in which we drove with over 300 WWII vehicles along the original route from Belgium to Nijmegen.

Stumbling stones

Currently I participate in the Stolpersteine or “Stumbling Stone” foundation in Veghel. We are in the process of laying 17 stumbling stones at the houses where Jews lived that were murdered during the Holocaust.

Screaming Ducks

Since 2006 I’m a member of the Screaming Ducks Living History Association. We are a group of friends, most of whom have a WWII vehicle and we portray Able company of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment / 101st Airborne Division and go to events all over Europe. Every december you can find us in Bastogne and most years we are present in Normandy as well.

In 2014 the Screaming Ducks have been granted the title “Honorary Members of the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment”, of which we are very proud!

In 2022 a couple of “Ducks” went to the United States where we visited Mount Currahee, the excellent Camp Taccoa museum and visited Fort Campbell to link up with the current 101st Airborne Division. Without any doubt the trip of a lifetime.

WWII Dodge Weapons Carrier

Since 2005 I have in my garage, an original WWII Dodge Weapons carrier, WC 51, which proved to be my ticket into the world of military history. The Dodge changed me from being a spectator to a participant and eventually to being a tour guide.

Over the years I’ve been able to drive the Dodge all over over the Netherlands and once to Normandy and once to Bastogne. We’ve participated in many commemorative events, convoys and static shows and I’ve been fortunate to drive WWII veterans around in it too. For me the Dodge truly was a life changer.