Atlantikwall-Museum Hoek van Holland

About the museum

During the Second World War, the German occupiers regarded Hoek van Holland, at the mouth of the Nieuwe Waterweg, as the most important coastal location in the Netherlands, because it secured access to the port of Rotterdam and the hinterland. The town was accordingly heavily fortified as part of the Atlantic Wall. The installations included the Marine-Flak-Batterie Nordmole, with several bunkers.

In 1996 the foundation "Vesting Hoek van Holland" founded the first Atlantic Wall museum in the Netherlands, initially in a type 625b gun bunker on the Badweg. As interest and the collection grew, the museum moved to the larger type 611 gun bunker on the car-free mole. After years of restoration by volunteers, the renovated museum opened in 2012; the original bunker on the Badweg is still looked after by the foundation.

Using original objects, dioramas, panels and images, the exhibition tells the history of the Atlantic Wall: its background, bunker construction, forced labour and the Organisation Todt, weapons, propaganda, communications and the consequences for the local population. An original German gun stands in the gun room, and beneath it the former cartridge chamber is accessible, where archaeological finds from the surrounding area are displayed. A bunker cinema shows documentaries on the history of the fortification of Hoek van Holland.

Highlights

• Type 611 gun bunker from 1943 on the car-free mole as the museum building
• Original German gun (Pak 40) in the gun room
• Bunker cinema with a documentary on the Atlantic Wall in Hoek van Holland
• Former cartridge chamber with an exhibition of archaeological finds
• Chronological exhibition on bunker construction, forced labour, propaganda and everyday life of the population

Permanent exhibition

• Atlantikwall-Dauerausstellung – Chronological exhibition on bunker construction, weapons, communications, propaganda and the consequences for the population, with a bunker cinema and archaeological finds in the former cartridge chamber.

Founded

1996

Operated by

Stichting ‘Vesting Hoek van Holland’

Admission & discounts

Payment by card or cash is possible. According to the visitor portal of the Erfgoedlijn Atlantikwall, the Museumkaart and Rotterdampas are not accepted.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Poorly accessible for people with reduced mobility because of the stairs in the bunker. There are no toilets in the museum. Pets are not allowed.

Kids & families

Children aged 6 to 12 pay a reduced price; for families with strollers, the stairs in the bunker are an obstacle.

Getting there & parking

The mole is car-free. From the metro stop it is about a 10 to 15 minute walk via Badweg and Koningin Emmaboulevard to the start of the mole, then about 100 m straight ahead; the museum is on the right. The route passes the fenced-off bunker on the Badweg, which is also looked after by the foundation but is not the visitor centre.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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