The exhibition ‘BUNKERS The Hidden Past of Zandvoort’ will be on display at the Zandvoorts Museum from March 8th to June 30th. This exhibition delves deeper into the construction of the bunkers and the hidden history of Zandvoort during World War II. The purpose of the exhibition is to provide more insight and to historically contextualize the events. The construction and function of the bunkers form the basis of the exhibition. The exhibition begins in the present. With each space entered, the hidden past of Zandvoort is revealed.
Present, Zandvoort has the most bunkers in the Netherlands. Hidden beneath the sand, they create the hills of the Zandvoort dunes. The bunkers were part of the Atlantic Wall, built along the western coast of Europe as a defensive line against the Allies. Nowadays, some bunkers are used as shelters for bats. In Kostverlorenpark, bunkers were converted into holiday homes. The site with thirty holiday homes is an oasis of tranquility, where flora and fauna have found refuge.
Past On May 10th, 1940, the Germans invaded the Netherlands. Five days later, the occupiers arrived in Zandvoort from Haarlem. The goal was to establish a defensive line against the Allies. For this purpose, 8020 residents of Zandvoort had to evacuate. Then began the demolition of all houses and hotels on the boulevard and the streets behind. The blowing up of the Jewish Synagogue in 1940 marked the beginning of the ordeal for the Jewish residents of Zandvoort. They were restricted in their freedom of movement by numerous prohibitions. Two years later, 153 Jewish families had to leave for Amsterdam. Only 21 people survived this period. About 800 bunkers were built in the dunes and on the beach by local contractors. Zandvoort was cut off from the outside world with barbed wire, anti-tank walls, and minefields.
Bunkers In the exhibition, we see various types of bunkers and their functions. Think of a personnel bunker, an observation bunker, and a kitchen bunker. Air battles took place above Zandvoort and in the dunes. Using 3D animations, these are realistically depicted.
Documentary In the documentary ‘The Hidden Past,’ we see the wartime history of Zandvoort. With the help of eyewitnesses and unique footage, the story is told. The rise of the NSB, the occupation, the persecution of Jews, and the arrival of German, British-Indian, and Georgian soldiers in Zandvoort.
Exhibitions Photographers Dik Bol, Walter Sans, and Koen van der Lee provide related photo exhibitions. Dik Bol took aerial photos of Zandvoort in the 1970s using a kite. Walter Sans captures ‘Böse Orte’ (Evil Places) that were secretly built during World War II. Koen van der Lee shows photos of bunkers underground.