At this location, the water body was covered to create a “tank trap,” in the hope that advancing tanks would drive into it. Ultimately, no tanks ever landed here, as the advance came from a different direction. Nevertheless, it remains a visible feature in the landscape. The “trap” was later even used as an ice rink.
For Petten, the construction of the Atlantikwall meant that many houses were demolished to make way for the defensive works. From 1946 onwards, a “new” village of Petten was rebuilt.
The water body is still visible today. Since 2017, an information board at the tank trap has commemorated its historical background.