St. Museum Canadian Allied Forces
1940-1945
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Origin and history of the museum
The founders of the present museum are firefighter Heiko Ates and his father Klaas Arie Ates from Groningen. From childhood Heiko Ates was well acquainted with the stories of his father, who lived through the war as an young boy. But it was on Liberation Day - May 5th 1980 - that he decided to do something with these memories. More and more he studied the years of German occupation and the fierce fighting for the liberation of the city of Groningen in April 1945.

For the average interested in World War II this means little more than frequent visits to library and museums and attending at historic events. But not to Heiko Ates. The best way to understand the past, is to make it tangible. That became his parole and the basis for the current collection.
The year 1980 was the beginning of the collection. With his technical background the decision where to start was not difficult: a Willys MB Jeep. It was in a terrible state. But after a restoration of several months it was back in perfect conditon. Soon followed a Dodge WC Ambulance and GMC truck. These too where restored to their former glory by father and son Ates.

In the following years the collection steadily kept expanding. Fortunately, untill the mid eighties most of these vehicles were not that difficult to come by with and reasonbly prized. Nevertheless, because of the limited financial rescources often the choice fell on unrestored vehicles. That sounds not to bad but often meant nothing more than an unrecognizable piece of rust. At first glance, that is. Because after each restoration the result was an complete and original vehicle, ready for the road.

In 1985 mister Ates was invited to participate in a historic event of the oldtimer-club 'Keep them Rolling'. With the Dodge WC Ambulance this was his first public performance as part of a memorial parade. Highlight was his attendance at the 45th D-Day Memorial in Normandy. But also closer to home the vehicles of Heiko Ates could be seen every year during the Liberation Day events on the 5th of May.
Marmon-Herrington armoured car
before and after restoration

Canadian infantery of 'Le Regiment de Maisonneuve'
on it's way through Holten (Gld). April 1945		 In 1995 it was time for a semi-permanent exhibition, so that people could come and see the vehicles besides their attendance at historic events. It was decided to contruct a building at the Beckerweg. Together with his father and some friends and co-workers they raised a hangar with a face of 600 m² (6460 sq ft). Because many of the vehicles regularly participated in all kinds of historic events, it couldn't be a full-fledged exhibition yet. This first accommodation was sufficient for the first ten years. But - as collections often do - the Ates collection kept expanding.

After twenty years the collection had become more than just a collection of old army vehicles. Original uniforms, weapons and all kinds of war-related items had found their way to mister Ates. Not only the sheer size but also the historical importance of the collection had expanded so much, that it was decided to place the collection in the hands of a foundation. This became the Canadian Allied Forces 1940-1945 Foundation.
Meanwhile, the hangar at the Beckerweg had became to small for the collection. But nearby, there was a big industrial building - a former wood storage hangar - that wasn't used for years. This was acquired by the city council in the early nineties, but never received a new function. For the foundation it meant a great opportunity to make the collection accessible for the general public. With the support of city council members Jan Evenhuis and Bernard Koops, the city of Groningen was convinced to place the building at the foundations disposal.

In 2008 the foundation got the right of use of the building at the Ulgersmaweg 51 with the assurance to be able to stay there until the year 2020. The foundation itself was responsible for the renovation of the building and the precinct. A year later the lining up of the collection was started. It was decided to display the collection in diorama's, with special attention for the Canadian troops who liberated the city of Groningen.
The collection in somewhat straitened circumstances
at the Beckerweg

Staff car Africa Corps		 On the 5th of May 2010 - a sundrenched Liberation Day - the museum was opened by mayor Peter Rehwinkel of Groningen. A crowning of the labor of thirty years of collecting and restoring.

Was the collection Ates in the beginning solely a father and son enterprise; nowadays there are many co-workers who all support the museum. With the commissioning of the new museum, the foundation has stopped to participate in historicals events. It was deemed that it wasn't very useful - after spending much time and effort to erect them - to dismantle the diorama's to attend at some one-day event.

That doesn't mean the museum is finished now. From time to time new ideas will lead to the creation of new diorama's and additions. The Museum Canadian Allied Forces aspires that the visitor always encounters a true representation of the war in each of the diorama's.