#Fortification
De Nollen, from bunker complex to artwork
During the Second World War, the dune area of De Nollen, near Den Helder, contained more than twenty bunkers as part of the Verteidigungsbereich Den Helder. Later, the area was transformed into an artwork by the artist Rudi van de Wint.
In De Nollen, the command bunker (type 117a) of the Verteidigungsbereich Den Helder was constructed. The complex also included fourteen personnel shelters, eight storage buildings, garages, and a kitchen. To the south it connected to Fort Dirksz Admiraal, where an anti-aircraft battery was located.
From 1980 onward, artist Rudi van de Wint lived and worked on the site. He transformed the bunkers into elements of an artistic landscape. The structures now often serve as foundations for the artworks. Paintings, sculptures, and architectural constructions were added to the landscape to merge art and nature. Under the influence of sunlight, the steel used in the artworks was intentionally allowed to change color over time.
After Van de Wint’s death in 2006, the site was opened to the public (with paid admission). In 2025, a documentary about his project and the family members who continued his work was released, titled “De Wolkenfietsers – erfenis van een droom” (“The Cloud Cyclists – legacy of a dream”). That same year, the film won a Gouden Kalf for Best Short Documentary.