Rare bunker with a remarkable history
Behind the old post office in Den Helder, you will find a well-preserved bunker from the Second World War: the Telephone Bunker, also known as the Communication Bunker or Type 616 Groszschaltstelle. This bunker was part of the Atlantic Wall and played a central role in communication around the Den Helder Defence Line.
Only three of this type in the Netherlands
Of this specific bunker type – the 616 – only three remain in the Netherlands. The Helder variant is particularly special. It is equipped with an attached Tobruk, a machine-gun emplacement, and is constructed as a mirror image of the standard design. The Tobruk is accessible via a concrete staircase on the outside.
Virtually intact interior
The interior of the bunker has largely remained in its original state. It was once covered by a camouflage roof, but this was removed after the war. Inside, you get a good idea of how the space functioned at the time.
Exhibition about life in wartime
The Techniek en Militairia Foundation has set up a permanent exhibition in the bunker. Here you can see material from the period 1940–1945, with stories and objects about the daily life of citizens and soldiers from Den Helder during the war.
Opening hours
- Saturday, September 12: 10:00 – 17:00
- Sunday, September 13: 10:00 – 17:00
Background information
- Type of monument: Defensive structure
- Original function: Telephone switching station
- Construction period: 1941 – 1943
- Current function: Museum
