#Museum
Bunker Museum Vlieland
In the dunes of Vlieland lies an almost completely preserved German bunker position, the so-called Stelling 12 H (Widerstandsnest H12). For many years the complex remained hidden — in 1951 it was even deliberately covered with sand to prevent holidaymakers from entering it. Today, much of the site is once again visible and accessible.
Stelling 12 H is one of three German positions built on Vlieland as part of the Atlantic Wall defensive line. Uniquely, it is the only one that has survived to this day in nearly complete condition. Brought into use in 1942, its purpose was to fend off any potential Allied landing.
The position consisted of several structures: three personnel bunkers, a kitchen bunker, and a wooden command bunker — all connected by trenches. This layout offers a vivid impression of how German troops on Vlieland lived and defended the island.
Visit and education
The Vlieland bunker museum can be visited through guided tours organised by the nearby visitor centre De Noordwester. These tours provide visitors with a concrete impression of life in the position during the second half of the war. The museum stands as a silent witness to history, a place where you can literally walk through bunkers and trace the physical remnants of the past.