Emerald Johnson

The LRE Foundation is delighted to announce that the LRE Forum 2026 will take place from 9 to 12 March across two historic cities — Arnhem and Nijmegen — in the Province of Gelderland. This 10th edition will give participants the chance to experience both cities, each deeply connected to Europe’s liberation history and to the ongoing work of remembrance and education.

The event is made possible thanks to the close collaboration with the municipalities of Arnhem and Nijmegen and the Province of Gelderland, who have confirmed their commitment and enthusiasm to welcome the event to their locations. This partnership reflects our shared mission to promote remembrance, education, and the preservation of Europe’s WWII heritage. 

A Diverse and Inspiring Programme 

The LRE Forum 2026 will offer a rich and engaging programme designed to foster dialogue, connection, and reflection within the fields of WWII heritage, remembrance tourism, and history education. 

The Forum in Nijmegen will open with a City Walk, offering participants the opportunity to discover the history and heritage of the Netherlands’ oldest city. Nijmegen will also host the Welcome Cocktail for members of the LREF network and, for the first time, the Youth Forum — a two-day programme inviting young participants to reflect on WWII history, remembrance, and how lessons from the past can guide us in addressing today’s global challenges. 

In Arnhem, participants will take part in the LRE Members Seminar, the Conference, the Gala Dinner, and the EXPO – key events that will bring together professionals, partners, and remembrance organisations from across Europe. These gatherings will provide a platform for sharing ideas, building partnerships, and discussing the future of remembrance and heritage tourism. 

A Milestone Edition in the Heart of Gelderland 

This 10th edition holds particular significance. Not only does it celebrate a decade of the LRE Forum, but it also brings the event for the first time to the Gelderland region, the birthplace of the Liberation Route Europe — the flagship project that laid the foundation for what is today the LRE Foundation. 

Since its creation, the LRE Foundation has evolved into an international remembrance organisation, active in historical research, educational initiatives, and cross-border projects promoting the preservation and interpretation of Europe’s 20th-century history. Hosting the Forum in Arnhem and Nijmegen represents both a return to our roots and an opportunity to highlight the region’s central role in the stories of liberation and post-war reconstruction. 

Save the date 

We invite all members, partners, and stakeholders to mark their calendars for 9–12 March 2026 and start planning their journey to Gelderland, easily accessible by train or via Amsterdam and Eindhoven airports. 

Registration will open in November, and we will also share a list of affiliated hotels in Arnhem offering special rates for Forum participants. 

We look forward to welcoming you to Arnhem and Nijmegen in March 2026 for a memorable and inspiring 10th edition of the LRE Forum.

We are thrilled to announce the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as a new member of the LRE Foundation! This collaboration will strengthen our shared commitment to preserving the memory of the Second World War and ensuring its history continues to offer valuable lessons for future generations. 

With 23,000 war memorials and cemeteries across more than 150 countries, the organization commemorates over 1.7 million Commonwealth casualties. Their dedication to maintaining these memorials, along with their educational initiatives, ensures that the fallen are never forgotten. Moreover, CWGC’s commitment to equality, remembrance, and historical preservation makes them a valuable ally in working towards shared goals, and strengthens our mission to make Second World War history relevant and accessible. 

“The LRE Foundation is excited to welcome the CWGC to our growing network. This collaboration opens up new opportunities to engage with the history of the Second World War, not only honoring the sacrifices made but also ensuring these stories inspire reflection and action among younger generations,” says Rémi Praud, Managing Director at the LRE Foundation. 

From March 10-13, 2025, Megan Maltby, Public Engagement Manager at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and James Garbett, Senior Marketing & Communications Executive, joined the LRE Forum in Kraków, Poland, for the first time. They participated in the welcoming ceremony for new members during the Gala Dinner, alongside other LREF members and partners, marking the beginning of this exciting collaboration.

On 10-13 March, the 9th edition of the LRE Forum was held in the historical city of Kraków organised by the LRE Foundation in cooperation with LRE Poland and the city that hosted the event. Over four days, participants engaged in a range of activities aimed at deepening knowledge, gaining new insight and sharing experiences in an international setting that brought together historians, educators, and tourism professionals.

Welcome Reception

On the 10th of March, LRE Foundation members and key partners gathered in Kraków for a Welcome Reception at the Galicia Jewish Museum, located in the historic former Jewish district of Kazimierz. The setting provided a perfect atmosphere to introduce the Forum’s spirit and themes. Welcome speeches were given by LRE Foundation Managing Director Rémi Praud and LRE Poland Director Joanna Roman, creating an introduction for guests to the next three days full of diverse experiences and opportunities that await.

LRE Member Seminar

On the 11th of March, during the first part of the day, the Member Seminar 2025 was organised, an event bringing together members of the LRE Foundation and creating a space for them to share information about recent projects and visions for future activities.The session opened with an overview of the LRE Foundation’s activities, followed by members exchanging experiences, best practices, and key insights. 

For the first time, the seminar included two parallel workshops. The first, led by LREF Project Manager Emme Johnson, Nicole Häusler (Senior Tourism Consultant at Mascontour), and Camille Varin (Project Officer at the Normandy Region’s Tourism Department), focused on sustainable tourism practices in WWII heritage tourism. The second, featuring LREF Digital Manager Loïc François, Frédéric Jurie (Professor at the University of Caen), and Błażej Pędzich (Back-End Developer at KERN IT), explored the role of AI technology in WWII history education and memory preservation.

LRE Conference

The LRE Conference, held in the historic building of the Jagiellonian University Collegium Novum, was an event full of inspiring and mind-expanding speeches delivered by guests from historical institutions across Europe. Entitled ‘Resistance to Oblivion: Preserving WWII Memories and Lessons for Future Generations’, the conference addressed important issues related to memory education and the preservation of WWII heritage.

Rémi Praud, Managing Director of the LRE Foundation, and Dr. Paweł Sękowski from the Institute of History at Jagiellonian University, introduced the theme of the conference to an audience of 200 attendees. This was followed by the keynote speech, delivered by Yuriy Savchuk, Director of the National Museum of Ukraine in World War II. His words emphasised the importance of preserving the memory of 20th century history in the face of contemporary conflicts. He also highlight how documenting wars in real time influences future historical narratives.

A panel discussion followed, moderated by Oriol López-Badell, Coordinator of the European Observatory on Memories. This discussion brought together representatives from prominent European institutions dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Second World War to address the issue of keeping memories in a challenged world. Panelists included Adelina Hetnar, Head of the Educational Projects Department of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and State Museum, Victor-Jan Vos, Director Collections and Services, Institute for War, Holocaust- and Genocide studies, and Jan Blažek, International Cooperation Coordinator at Post Bellum.

The conference concluded with a unique panel ‘Generations in Dialogue – The Legacy of WWII Memory’, moderated by Larysa Michalska from the Max Kopfstein Association – Humanity in Action Poland, during which we had the opportunity to hear the moving testimonies of Karolina Maczek-Skillen, Tania Szabo and Noemie Lopian, all of whom are actively working to commemorate their relatives’ stories, in various ways connected to the fate of World War II. The incredible accounts of our guests shed light not only on their families’ history, but also on how the life of the person who inherits such a legacy changes, and made us reflect on the importance of preserving and passing on the memory of such stories.

LRE Gala

To conclude the day, the LRE Gala took place at the Home Army Museum in Kraków, where guests gathered for a festive dinner. Participants were welcomed by Managing Director of the LRE Foundation Rémi Praud, followed by a speech from Chairman of the LRE Foundation Ed Kronenburg. The dinner was enhanced by a thought-provoking keynote speech by Dr. Piotr M. A. Cywiński, Director of Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and State Museum, drawing attention to the importance and complementarity of expanding our knowledge regarding the WWII events and conducting commemoration activities. The evening culminated in a joyous ceremony welcoming and celebrating the new members of the LRE Foundation network.

LREXPO 

On the 12th of March, the annual LREXPO – a tourism trade fair took place, where members of the LRE Foundation had extensive networking opportunities. The event allowed our members and partners to share ideas and best practices, as well as to explore new collaborations between tourism institutions aiming to expand their offerings with fresh destinations and services.

Site Visits

Approaching the end of the LRE Forum 2025, on 13th of March participants visited one of the most important places preserving the memory of Nazi crimes committed during WWII against oppressed nationalities, especially Jews – the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and State Museum. The guided tour was an opportunity to learn about the history of the camp and the prisoners held here, the vast majority of whom died in the camp. Walking through this remembrance site, confronting its history and reflecting on its significance was not easy. However, sharing this experience with our colleagues, partners and members, made it extremely meaningful and enriched our consciousness. 

During the Forum, participants also had the opportunity to take part in educational walks around Kraków, during which they learnt about its history, particularly during the Second World War, and to visit the Oskar Schindler’s Emalia Factory Museum, presenting the fate of Krakow under occupation and the story of Oskar Schindler himself. Particularly important was a guided tour in the footsteps of the Krakow ghetto, which operated here between 1941 and 1943. The tour shed light on the functioning of the Nazi system and the machinery of extermination, targeting the Jews.

FAM Trips

In addition to the LRE Forum 2025 activities, international tour operators had the chance to participate in a Familiarization Trip to Berlin, Kraków, and Warsaw. 

With the support of Visit Berlin, a first group of Tour Operators spent three days in the German capital, exploring significant historical sites and gaining valuable insights. Highlights included a guided visit to the former Tempelhof Airport and its exhibition, “Ready for Takeoff – 100 Years of Tempelhof Airport,” as well as tours of the Allied Museum and the Topography of Terror Museum, where participants learned about the Nazi rise to power and the subsequent regime of terror. Other visits included the Berlin-Karlshorst Museum, the Blindenwerkstatt Otto Weidt, and a walking tour through the area where Jewish families once lived. 

After three full days in Berlin, the FAM trip continued in Kraków, where, with the support of the Kraków Tourism Alliance, the tour operators took part in activities related to the LRE Forum 2025. 

The final stop of this year’s FAM trip was Warsaw, supported by MROT – Tourism Organisation of the Mazovia Region. The visits included the Warsaw Rising Museum, a WWII and city highlights tour of the Old Town, the Museum of Warsaw, the Institute of National Remembrance, the Palmiry National Memorial and Museum, and the Modlin Fortress.

LRE UK is excited to announce its newest partner, the University of Portsmouth. After several years of positive cooperations with the university, we are pleased to make this partnership official and look forward to continuing and expanding our work with them. As part of this cooperation, under coordination of Dr Rob James, Senior lecturer in Cultural and Social History at University of Portsmouth, and Ben Mayne, Director of LRE UK, University of Portsmouth students now can elect to work with the Foundation’s UK branch as part of their studies. This involves students researching and creating historical content to design new Themed Routes for the LRE network. Within this they can focus on their personal interests in the topic to develop routes on a variety of themes. 

This cooperation provides students with valuable experience in the cultural heritage and remembrance tourism sector, offering them an opportunity to foster their research and writing skills whilst contributing to an international project. This knowledge and information offers valuable additions to the ever-expanding LRE hiking & cycling trails network. It simultaneously supports the Foundation’s mission of raising awareness about Second World War history and its varied perspectives and experiences, and engaging young people in this process. 

“This is a great opportunity for young adults to gain many skills in different areas and contribute towards a European project that grows from strength to strength. […] it’s important that we give the future generations the opportunities to participate and work to continue the remembrance.” Says Ben Mayne, LRE UK Director.

In February 2024, the first students to choose to work with LRE UK as part of their studies began working on a Themed Route. Tailored to their own interests, students Sadie White and Francesa Raine explored the reality of the war in Portsmouth from a citizen’s perspective. They researched and presented stories of a war-scarred city, and the sense of community that arose between citizens and military troops. Working with Ben Mayne, the students selected, researched and created items of historical content to create the walking route ‘Community in War-scarred Portsmouth’. This will be available soon on the LRE website. 

‘Formalising the University’s partnership with LRE Foundation is a really important development and cements the relationship we’ve had with the organisation over recent years. The partnership will provide students with the opportunity to work on a variety of important heritage projects, and these will not only help to build the students’ knowledge and skills but will also help to ensure that this important period in world history will continue to be remembered and commemorated.’ Says Dr Rob James, Senior lecturer in Cultural and Social History at University of Portsmouth. 

After this positive start to the partnership, we are looking forward to future cooperation and projects with the University of Portsmouth! 

As the LRE Foundation continues its mission to expand the Liberation Route Europe project, our team recently took part in several major European networking events, strengthening connections with the Travel Trade industry and promoting our LRE hiking and cycling trails. 

CycleSummit – Bern, Switzerland 

From 12 to 15 October, Project Officer Emme Johnson attended the CycleSummit in Bern, Switzerland. The largest European trade show for bicycle touring, over 100 organisations attended this year’s summit. The event offered a prime opportunity to showcase LRE’s hiking and cycling trails to tour operators from throughout Europe and beyond who specialise in bicycle tourism. Emme’s participation helped increase awareness of the Liberation Route Europe trails among key players in the sector, to encourage the inclusion of our many sites, stories and routes into cycling and hiking tourism itineraries across Europe. 

Global European Marketplace – London, UK 

On 31 October and 1 November, Project Officer Emme Johnson and Press and Communication Advisor Gert-Jan Jacobs represented the LRE Foundation at the Global European Marketplace in London, the premier annual travel trade event of the European Tourism Association (ETOA). This dynamic gathering brought together over 800 industry professionals for a day and a half filled with networking and insights into the latest tourism trends. Emme and Gert-Jan connected with more than 20 international tour operators, spotlighting the Liberation Route Europe project and its unique historical and touristic significance. Their efforts helped open doors for potential partnerships that aim to inspire global audiences to explore the powerful stories and sites along the route. 

Interreg NWE Annual Event – Dublin, Ireland 

On 5 and 6 November, LRE Foundation Managing Director Rémi Praud and Project Officer Emme Johnson attended the Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) Annual Event in Dublin. As beneficiaries of the Interreg NWE EU funding programme, LRE Foundation was among a diverse group of project applicants, EU representatives, and decision-makers. The event was an invaluable opportunity to showcase both the ongoing REFOOT project and the Liberation Route Europe Trails, while networking with potential collaborators to support our efforts in making WWII history accessible through sustainable tourism. 

Looking forward to 2025, the LRE Foundation is preparing for the LREXPO at the upcoming LRE Forum, scheduled for 10 to 13 March 2025, in Krakow, Poland. This event will provide a valuable platform for our members and partners to connect with representatives from the travel trade industry, including European and North American tour operators, through dedicated networking sessions and FAM trips. We’re excited to strengthen these relationships and expand the reach of the Liberation Route Europe project. More details about the Forum will be shared in the coming weeks. 

For more information about the Forum, click here.