“Tourists flocking to Schoonderlogt estate for ‘Band of Brothers’ photo”

Measures are being taken at the Schoonderlogt estate in the Gelderland town of Elst to manage the flow of tourists. From all corners of the world people come to the estate to have a Band of Brothers-like photo.

Schoonderlogt was the headquarters of an American army unit during World War II. Commander Richard Winters took a photo under the arches during the Battle of Arnhem, an event that was staged in 2001 in the popular war series Band of Brothers.

That photo, with actor Damian Lewis as Commander Winters, is now being copied en masse by tourists. “You are really surprised how world famous this location is,” says Bauke Huisman of the Betuws War Info Center. Broadcasting Gelderland. “They really come from everywhere especially for this place.”

According to Huisman, there are thousands of tourists per year. And there are so many that the infrastructure is being addressed. For example, there will be a parking lane for coaches, so that buses can park nearby and will no longer be in the way. A park with hedges and plants will also be created, complete with two benches and picnic tables.

Elst is a stopover of the Band of Brotherstours: from the beaches of Normandy to Hitler’s summer residence in southern Germany. The TV series tells the story of a group of American paratroopers who saw action in Western Europe during World War II.

The estate is private property, so not everyone is allowed to come and take a photo. Interested parties can take a snapshot under the gate on request.