11th Bunker Day 2026: 35 Years of the Cold War (1945-1991)

Many traces of the Second World War can still be found along the Dutch coast. The bunkers, built as part of the Atlantic Wall, are the most prominent of these. On Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 17:00 PM, the bunkers from Zeeland up to and including the Wadden Islands will be open collectively for Bunker Day. Will you join us to see special bunkers that are otherwise closed?

Bunker Day May 30, 2026

Practical

During Bunkerdag, you need an admission ticket in the form of a wristband, which is only available on the day itself at participating locations. This wristband grants you access to all locations, provided you wear it visibly on your wrist. The admission price is €7,50 for adults, €4,00 for children aged 4 to 12, and free for children under 3 and veterans (with a valid Veterans Pass). There is no advance ticket sales.

 

35 Years of the Cold War (1945-1991)

Did you know that the Cold War ended only 35 years ago? For many people, that feels very recent; perhaps you experienced this period yourself, or heard stories from parents or grandparents. Yet it is a period that is often less tangible than the Second World War.

At the start of the Cold War, two worlds collided: the capitalist West led by the US and the communist Soviet Union in the East. This was the beginning of the Cold War. There was no front line in the Netherlands and no fighting took place, but the threat of conflict was very much present. What followed was a period full of threat, espionage, and fear. Governments and the military anticipated a possible attack, and preparations were also made in the Netherlands. A section of the Atlantic Wall once again played an important role in this.

Many bunkers that you can visit during Bunker Day were built during the Second World War as part of the Atlantic WallHowever, these structures did not disappear from view after 1945. During the Cold War period, some bunkers remained in use or were given new functions. During Bunker Day, attention is paid to the Cold War period at various locations. You will discover how existing bunkers were adapted, what role they played in a changing world, and how the history of these places did not end after the Second World War, but continued for many years. Some of these places are: Wasserman Bunker, Algerabrug Atomic Shelter, Headquarters of Marine Artillery Battalion 205 the 'Markostand', and the Biber Position: Biber Bunker.

 

Special openings

Every year during Bunker Day, locations that normally remain closed to the public are open to visitors. It is precisely these special openings that make a visit extra special: places you wouldn't normally visit, with stories that often remain hidden behind thick walls and locked doors. This year, too, a number of unique locations are opening their doors. Think of bunkers that have been inaccessible for decades, or places that can only be visited in exceptional circumstances. From command bunkers to completely preserved complexes: every location offers a unique glimpse into the history of the Atlantic Wall and life during the Second World War or the Cold War. For example Fort Ellewoutsdijk.

Fort Ellewoutsdijk was built between 1830 and 1835. The fort is part of a nineteenth-century defensive line intended to prevent enemy ships from sailing to Antwerp. During the Second World War, due to its strategic location on the Western Scheldt, the German occupiers built three Tobruks and an open gun emplacement on top of the fort. During the Second World War, the fort served as an important central ammunition storage depot for the German Kriegsmarine. The fort was also used by the Germans as a prison during the Second World War and, after the war, was converted into a prison camp for members of the NSB (Dutch Nazi Party). Today, it is managed by Natuurmonumenten.

 

<strong> More info: </strong>

Bunker Day 2026: https://bunkerdag.nl/nl/homepage/

Facebook Bunker Day: https://www.facebook.com/bunkerdag/?locale=nl_NL

Bunker Day 2025:

https://www.postzegelblog.nl/2025/05/23/10e-bunkerdag-2025-80-jaar-vrijheid/

Previous World War II blogs:

https://www.postzegelblog.nl/tag/tweede-wereldoorlog/