Testimonials

  I booked a personalized tour with Edwin to follow the footsteps of my father who was a paratrooper with Easy Co, 2nd Bat, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne. Edwin took... read more us step by step from the time my Dad landed in a field near Son, NL to the point he was wounded at the Cross Roads battle, west of Arnhem. Edwin is very knowledgeable and it is obvious he does his research and is a professional. When I booked I was wondering if we would get the "drive-by" type of tour but this wasn't the case at all. We left at 8:30 in the morning and returned at 6:45 pm. We would never have been able to find the sites we visited on our own. He had details that I had never uncovered.

  OUTSTANDING, PERSONALIZED MILITARY TOUR

Having served with the 82nd Airborne Division and having read its history for years concerning battles in which the Division was strategic in the accomplishment... read more of its mission, I wanted to see the battlegrounds and pay respect to my brothers who gave ultimate sacrifice in freeing Europe. No better way could this be achieved than through the incredible knowledge, care, and interest of the historian and tour guide, Edwin Popken with Battlefield Discovery. Edwin’s preparation and careful attention to the desired itinerary made the action come alive with background information, maps, and accounts. Not only was Edwin proficient in the task and presentation, but he also was exceptional in his help with planning, details, and follow through. I would confidently recommend Edwin’s tour as a committed, thorough and reputable source of a sensitive time in military history for which we can all be grateful.

  My father-in-law and did a "Band of Brothers" tour with Edwin a couple of weeks ago. I had read the book long before the series and we had both been... read more interested in WWII history for a long time. We also had the opportunity to hear a local veteran of Easy Company (he is still living by the way) speak a few years ago. We took advantage of being in Amsterdam for a couple of days to go see where he fought. Edwin really knows his stuff. He took us on back roads and to now urbanized areas where the actions took place that you could never find on your own. Edwin worked in some other Market Garden stuff like the Arnhem Bridge as well. It was an outstanding tour in every way. Edwin does other tours covering other actions in the wider region too. I can't recommend him highly enough!

  I had a fantastic day with Edwin Popken as expert guide.
The visit of the battle sites, combined with his on the spot knowledge of what really happened and... read more interesting details / background information on the persons involved was enriching for me and should be for anyone interested in military history.
He has all the background knowledge to make any day with him a day to remember.
Thierry Mathieu

  "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