The chapel at the former Valkenburg Naval Air Base is part of a remarkable piece of military heritage that was expanded by the German occupiers during the Second World War as part of the Atlantic Wall. The barracks along the Wassenaarseweg, including the chapel with its modest bell tower, were built in 1940 and camouflaged in such a way that they resembled a Dutch village when viewed from the air. In and around the barracks are bunkers, trenches, and other defensive structures, including a large telephone bunker from 1942 that formed part of Stützpunktgruppe Katwijk–Noordwijk.
Exhibition in the chapel
In the chapel, the Atlantikwall Katwijk Foundation presents an exhibition with 15 panels about Katwijk before 1940, the construction of the Atlantic Wall, and the bunkers in the Zuidduinen, as well as information about the barracks that will be preserved.
Demolition of the barracks village
The buildings on the dune side are owned by the dune water company Dunea. It plans to expand water extraction and argues that the buildings pose risks to drinking water quality. In recent years, the Atlantikwall Katwijk Foundation has advocated strongly for the preservation of the entire barracks village and has developed a redevelopment plan, as the barracks together with the bunkers represent a unique piece of heritage. The case went all the way to the Council of State. Although the municipality of Katwijk had previously granted the barracks village the status of a municipal monument, the Council of State has nevertheless given permission for the demolition of 14 of the 18 buildings.