Netflix’s Dutch WWII film breaks with Hollywood convention by centering on a Canadian-led campaign in Dutch territory: the Battle of the Scheldt, which cleared the Scheldt estuary to open the port of Antwerp—the strategic linchpin that enabled the Allied advance into Germany in 1944. Few WWII films venture into this overlooked theatre, which makes The Forgotten Battle stand out. Released in 2020, this Dutch war drama spent weeks at the top of Netflix’s charts and sparked conversations about an overlooked campaign. Whether you’re curious about its historical roots or weighing whether to queue it up tonight, here’s what you actually need to know.

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Release Year: 2020 · Director: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. · Battle Depicted: Battle of the Scheldt · Platforms: Netflix · Key Cast: Tom Felton

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • The Forgotten Battle is a 2020 Dutch war film (Wikipedia)
  • Depicts the real Battle of the Scheldt (1944–1944) (Europe Remembers)
  • Directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. (Wikipedia)
  • First Canadian Army suffered nearly 13,000 casualties during the battle (War History Network)
2What’s unclear
  • Specific inaccuracies in film’s battle scenes vs. actual operations
  • Role of individual units like Black Watch in film vs. reality
  • Exact casualty figures for German forces and civilians
  • Whether director consulted military historians directly
3Timeline signal
  • Battle of the Scheldt ran from 1944-10-02 to 1944-11-08
  • First Canadian Army tasked 1944-09-12
  • Operation Infatuate (Walcheren) began 1944-11-01
  • First convoy entered Antwerp 1944-11-28
4What’s next
  • Film continues streaming on Netflix globally
  • Possible expanded releases on physical media
  • Growing academic interest in Scheldt campaign
  • Renewed attention to Dutch WWII history in education
Key Fact Details Source
Director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. Wikipedia
Release Year 2020 Wikipedia
Battle Depicted Battle of the Scheldt Europe Remembers
Battle Duration October 2 – November 8, 1944 Europe Remembers
Streaming Platform Netflix Wikipedia
Lead Forces First Canadian Army under Lt-Gen Guy Simonds Liberation Route Europe
Allied Casualties Nearly 13,000 War History Network
Strategic Outcome Cleared Scheldt estuary for Antwerp supply line Veterans Affairs Canada

Was The Forgotten Battle a true story?

The film blends fictional characters with real historical events rather than dramatizing a specific true story. Principal characters—including Dutch Axis soldier Marinus van Staveren (Gijs Blom), a British glider pilot (Jamie Flatters), and a Zeeland resistance woman (Susan Radder)—are all invented, but they represent factions that fought in the actual Battle of the Scheldt.

Battle of the Scheldt overview

  • The Battle of the Scheldt ran from October 2 to November 8, 1944, making it one of the longest and fiercest battles on Dutch soil (Europe Remembers)
  • The First Canadian Army under Lt-Gen Guy Simonds led the Allied effort, assisted by British, Polish, French, Norwegian, Belgian, and American units (Liberation Route Europe)
  • The battle cleared the Scheldt estuary, allowing supply ships to reach the port of Antwerp—critical for the Allied advance into Germany (Veterans Affairs Canada)
Bottom line: The Forgotten Battle uses invented characters to dramatize real events. It’s realistic fiction rooted directly in history, not a dramatization of one specific true story.

Film plot vs history

The film covers Dutch Waffen-SS soldiers on the Eastern Front and Dutch Resistance members (De Ondergrondse) whose paths converge during the Scheldt campaign. One review notes the director achieved strong historical accuracy in depicting the German perspective during the battle (The Whit Online).

The Battle of the Scheldt was considered by some historians to have been waged on the most difficult battlefield of the Second World War, with nearly five weeks of fighting resulting in thousands of Allied dead, wounded, or missing, alongside massive civilian casualties (Looper).

How accurate is the movie The Forgotten Battle?

The film takes liberties with specific events but generally stays faithful to the broader historical context of the Scheldt campaign.

Key historical events

  • Operation Market Garden’s delay (September 17–25, 1944) allowed Germans to fortify the Scheldt position, which the film alludes to (Liberation Route Europe)
  • The amphibious assault on October 9, 1944, broke the Leopold Canal hold, a key moment the film dramatizes (Veterans Affairs Canada)
  • South shore of the Scheldt was secured by November 3, 1944; Operation Infatuate on Walcheren began November 1 and ended November 7 (Juno Beach Centre)

Dramatizations and changes

The film condenses months of complex operations into a tighter narrative. Individual soldiers and units depicted are fictional composites rather than identifiable historical figures. The reviewer from The Whit Online praised the director for historical accuracy in depicting the German point of view during the battle (The Whit Online).

Why this matters

The Scheldt estuary could have been captured easily in early September 1944, but the delay from Operation Market Garden allowed Germans to fortify the position by October. The film’s dramatization captures this tension between Allied momentum and German entrenchment.

Is The Forgotten Battle worth watching?

Viewer reactions have been largely positive, with many praising the film’s emotional depth and historical grounding.

Critical reception

  • The film reached the #1 spot on Netflix after its October 2020 release (The Whit Online)
  • Reddit users have called it the best WWII film in years, praising its authentic Dutch perspective
  • The film balances multiple character arcs across the Dutch, British, and German sides

Viewer reactions

Viewers appreciate that the film doesn’t shy away from moral complexity—showing Dutch citizens caught between Axis service and resistance work. One Looper analysis notes it’s “a realistic work of fiction rooted directly in history” (Looper).

What to watch

The Battle of the Scheldt remains one of the most overlooked campaigns of WWII. For viewers seeking authentic European perspectives beyond Hollywood’s usual D-Day narratives, this film fills a genuine gap.

How much of The Forgotten Battle is in English?

The Forgotten Battle is primarily a Dutch-language film with English elements, designed for international Netflix audiences.

Language breakdown

  • Primary language is Dutch, reflecting the film’s Dutch production and setting
  • English subtitles are available globally on Netflix
  • Some dialogue features English-speaking characters (British glider pilot)
  • Tom Felton’s appearance brings English-speaking audiences familiar with Harry Potter

Subtitles availability

Netflix offers The Forgotten Battle with English subtitles for international viewers. The film can be watched in Dutch with English subtitles or dubbed in English in some regions. The Dutch dialogue adds authenticity to the setting in Zeeland and Flemish Belgium.

Upsides

  • Authentic Dutch perspective on WWII often missing from Hollywood films
  • Historically grounded in real Scheldt campaign
  • Emotional depth through multiple character arcs
  • Strong production values and cinematography
  • Available globally on Netflix

Downsides

  • Subtitled viewing required for non-Dutch speakers
  • Fictional characters may frustrate viewers seeking specific true stories
  • Some battle sequences condensed for narrative flow
  • Less action-focused than typical war films
  • Regional focus limits broader audience connection

What is the cast of The Forgotten Battle?

The cast features Dutch actors alongside recognizable international names, blending authenticity with broader appeal.

Main actors

  • Gijs Blom as Marinus van Staveren (Dutch Axis soldier)
  • Jamie Flatters as the British glider pilot
  • Susan Radder as the Zeeland resistance woman
  • Tom Felton (known for Harry Potter) in a supporting role

Notable roles

The decision to cast Tom Felton brought international recognition to the film, particularly among English-speaking audiences familiar with his previous work. The three leads represent different factions—Axis soldier, Allied pilot, and resistance member—whose stories intersect during the Scheldt campaign.

Timeline

Understanding the Battle of the Scheldt timeline helps contextualize the film’s dramatization.

Date Event Source
September 12, 1944 First Canadian Army tasked with clearing Scheldt Veterans Affairs Canada
September 13, 1944 First Allied attacks begin Liberation Route Europe
October 2, 1944 Battle of the Scheldt main phase begins Europe Remembers
October 9, 1944 Amphibious assault breaks Leopold Canal hold Veterans Affairs Canada
November 1, 1944 Operation Infatuate (Walcheren assault) begins War History Network
November 3, 1944 South shore of Scheldt secured Veterans Affairs Canada
November 7, 1944 Walcheren resistance ends Juno Beach Centre
November 8, 1944 Battle of the Scheldt concludes Europe Remembers
November 28, 1944 First convoy enters Antwerp after mine clearing Veterans Affairs Canada
October 2020 The Forgotten Battle film released The Whit Online

The nearly six-week gap between the battle’s end (November 8) and the first convoy reaching Antwerp (November 28) illustrates why clearing the Scheldt mattered so urgently—Allied forces needed that supply line to advance into Germany.

What historians and reviewers say

The Whit Online

“The director of this film did a fantastic job on the historical accuracy of the Battle of Scheldt.”

Looper

“‘The Forgotten Battle’ is a realistic work of fiction rooted directly in history.”

Looper

“The Battle of the Scheldt was considered by some historians to have been waged on the most difficult battlefield of the Second World War.”

Related reading: A Real Pain plot and reviews

The Forgotten Battle vividly recreates the Scheldt’s chaos much like Black Hawk Down battle facts, which unpacks the 1993 Mogadishu raid’s harrowing realities.

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Frequently asked questions

What battle is shown in The Forgotten Battle?

The film depicts the Battle of the Scheldt, fought from October 2 to November 8, 1944, in Dutch Zeeland, Belgian Flanders, and Brabant. The battle cleared the Scheldt estuary so supply ships could reach the port of Antwerp.

Is The Forgotten Battle dubbed or subtitled?

The film is primarily in Dutch with English subtitles available on Netflix globally. Some regions may offer English dubbing, but subtitled viewing is the most common experience for international audiences.

Who plays the British pilot?

Jamie Flatters plays the British glider pilot in The Forgotten Battle. He stars alongside Gijs Blom (Dutch soldier) and Susan Radder (resistance member) as the three main characters whose paths converge during the Scheldt campaign.

When was the Battle of the Scheldt?

The Battle of the Scheldt ran from October 2 to November 8, 1944. The First Canadian Army led Allied forces in clearing the estuary, with operations continuing from initial tasking on September 12 through the final convoy on November 28.

Can I watch The Forgotten Battle trailer?

Yes, the trailer is available on YouTube and through Netflix’s platform. Searches for “The Forgotten Battle trailer” will direct you to official promotional content.

What is the IMDb rating?

The film has received positive ratings on IMDb, with viewers praising its emotional depth and historical authenticity. Check IMDb directly for current scores and review counts.

Is there a DVD release?

The Forgotten Battle premiered on Netflix in October 2020. Physical media releases may vary by region. Netflix remains the primary streaming source for most international audiences.

The Forgotten Battle fills a genuine gap in WWII cinema by bringing the Scheldt campaign to global audiences. For viewers interested in European perspectives on the war—particularly the Canadian-led operations that secured Antwerp—the film offers both entertainment and historical education. For those expecting a blow-by-blow recounting of actual events, the fictional characters may feel like a detour, but they serve the broader purpose of humanizing an overlooked campaign. Viewers who want authentic Dutch WWII history with emotional storytelling should stream it tonight; those who need every detail to match primary sources should stick with the Veterans Affairs Canada records.