On 6 March 1945, at around 10 pm, a German flying bomb struck Heuvelplein. The projectile came down on the corner of Nieuwstraat and Beliestraat and destroyed the café and the home of the Elst family. There were 14 deaths. The Elst family and a neighbouring girl died. Only son Jos was not at home at the time and survived the disaster. A neighbour was also later found dead. As were five British servicemen pulled out from under the rubble. On top of the human suffering, the material damage around the square was enormous. Some 20 houses, the town hall and Wesenbeek brewery were badly hit.

Since 22 October 1944, Essen had been liberated from German occupation. But World War II was not over yet. Antwerp and its port became a German target after liberation. Germany terrorised the region with flying bombs. Some 60 V-bombs succeeded in Essen.

Tourist information

Cycling routes

Tourism Province of Antwerp has created liberation routes along the cycle junction network. Cycle and walk past the places where it all happened, such as monuments, military cemeteries and crash sites. For the liberation routes, go to fietsroutes.provincieantwerpen.be