Testimonials

  The one-day battlefield tour of Arnhem with Jo Hook was excellent! We were advised that she was one of the most knowledgable on Arnhem and we were not disappointed. She... read more gave us a very full, detailed and well-illustrated day as we followed the early days of the Arnhem campaign from the drop-zone through the fighting of various units and ending at the War Cemetery. Her dialogue was engaging, with numerous, personal accounts, supported by her personal connection to some of the veterans. I would throughly recommend Battlefield Discovery - and Jo Hook - for careful planning and detailed knowledge.

  "You must see the ground to understand the battle." Military historians have been saying that forever. This tour was the epitome of understanding the Market Garden Operation. The roads, the... read more vast vistas of farmlands where the landings took place, and the "single roadway" in and out of the entire campaign are a "must" to understand the entirety of this battle. Edwin was an outstanding guide who was as thorough and as detailed as I could have ever hoped. I think the most fascinating part of my trip was the Arnhem portion and the many insights Edwin presented on the "lay of the land" and how it affected so much of the battle for that bridge, not to mention the many personal soldiers stories he relayed during that time. Edwin was wonderful and I am thrilled to have gotten the opportunity to have spent my trip with such a wonderfully knowledgeable historian........he's.......NOT, "just a guide"! John Friscia

  Just back from Oosterbeek which included three full day Battlefield Tours. Two of these were provided by Edwin Popken. I cannot recommend Edwin enough and his knowledge of Market Garden... read more is second to none. We wanted to be shown and understand the details from Joe's Bridge all the way to the Island. We split the days between the 101st airborne area and the 82nd Airborne area. The common thread was the journey of XXX Corps. Edwin is able to adapt each tour and goes the extra mile to ensure any request is dealt with. There was just I and my 11 year old son and although my son is very knowledgeable he is still 11 years old. At no time did my son lose interest and was keen to ask questions all day for two days. Edwin was fantastic with him. I have never visited so many slit trenches and fox holes before.
Both my son and I now have a much greater understanding why Market Garden was planned, the bravery on the ground, the sacrifices paid, what was achieved and the failures along the way. It is a battle so shaped by misinformation, media and debate that we are now able to understand what happened on the ground rather than on a cinema screen.
If you are in the Arnhem area and wish to walk in the footsteps of those brave individuals back in 1944, then Edwin is the guide you need to book. You will not regret it.

  Just back from Oosterbeek which included three full day Battlefield Tours. Two of these were provided by Edwin Popken. I cannot recommend Edwin enough and his knowledge of Market Garden... read more is second to none. We wanted to be shown and understand the details from Joe's Bridge all the way to the Island. We split the days between the 101st airborne area and the 82nd Airborne area. The common thread was the journey of XXX Corps. Edwin is able to adapt each tour and goes the extra mile to ensure any request is dealt with. There was just I and my 11 year old son and although my son is very knowledgeable he is still 11 years old. At no time did my son lose interest and was keen to ask questions all day for two days. Edwin was fantastic with him. I have never visited so many slit trenches and fox holes before.
Both my son and I now have a much greater understanding why Market Garden was planned, the bravery on the ground, the sacrifices paid, what was achieved and the failures along the way. It is a battle so shaped by misinformation, media and debate that we are now able to understand what happened on the ground rather than on a cinema screen.
If you are in the Arnhem area and wish to walk in the footsteps of those brave individuals back in 1944, then Edwin is the guide you need to book. You will not regret it.

  Spent two days with Edwin in August looking at the Canadian contribution of Operation Veritable on day one and Operation Plunder (Crossing of the Rhine) on day two. Firstly I... read more would state that both of these operations deserve much more time to explore fully. They were such large operations and lost behind events such as Normandy and Arnhem/Market Garden. The troop numbers were huge and I am the first to admit that I did not fully understand the magnitude of both operations.
Edwin Popkin from Battlefield Discovery is by far the best guide in Europe for these operations. His knowledge and delivery brings to life those fateful events from so many years ago. You walk the ground, witness the events and have such an understanding what these men went through to remove the evil which stood in front of them back in 1944/45. I could not recommend this company enough. If you are a small private party, like us or a large corporate entity, Edwin and his team at Battlefield Discovery should be your go to guys. We will certainly be booking again in 2023.