Bunkervillages

In the Netherlands quite a few Atlantikwall complexes where re-used as small villages after the war. Sometimes for permanent housing, but most of the times just as summerhouses. Reusing the bunkers – which in most cases were light constructions of the VF and Kuver types – started almost immediately after the war. In  some places it was even a necessary evil because complete streets we’re demolished during the occupation, in order to construct the Atlantikwall. Families were then more or less forced to start over in the bunkers which were actually the reason why these people were homeless in the first place.

In several online archives you can find (professional) photographs from the North to the South of holland. First up: the Isle of Texel with the ‘bunkervillage Den Hoorn‘ .

photos by Jan van Wijk, courtesy of the beeldbank Texel