Visitors also appreciate the developments. “It is a beautiful village, they are doing well. It is all being renovated,” says history enthusiast Werner Birekoven.
Atlantic Wall comes back to life
The bunkers are part of the Atlantic Wall, the more than 5,000 kilometer long defense line that the Germans built along the European coast during the Second World War.
According to Van Hooff, temporarily replacing a cannon completes the historical picture.
“The cannon on the bunker is the coolest thing. We already had it and this is a great opportunity to have it hoisted on. It brings history back to life.”
Children are allowed to climb on it
Van Hooff doesn’t find it a problem that visitors, especially children, climb on the cannon and play with it.
“That’s how it should be, I think. Bunkers and weapons as play objects, you can hardly imagine it. Of course they are not made for that. But especially in these times it is wonderful to play with them instead of doing other things with them.”
