Bunker 599

Bunker 599, situated along the Diefdijk in the Netherlands, is a striking example of innovative engagement with historical military architecture. Originally constructed in 1940 as a Group Shelter Type P, this bunker was part of the New Dutch Waterline (Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie), a defensive system designed to protect the core regions of Holland by inundating large areas to hinder enemy advancement.

In 2010, the Dutch design firms RAAAF and Atelier de Lyon undertook a radical transformation of Bunker 599. Using diamond wire saws, they meticulously sliced a one-meter-wide segment from the center of the bunker, effectively splitting the seemingly indestructible concrete structure in two. This intervention took four weeks and exposes the bunker’s interior, offering visitors a unique perspective on its confined space, which was originally intended to shelter up to 13 soldiers.

A staircase leads down from the dike to a pathway that traverses the cleaved bunker and extends over a constructed water feature. This design element symbolizes the inundation strategy of the New Dutch Waterline, with poles along the path indicating the water levels that would have been reached during such defensive measures.

The project challenges traditional notions of cultural heritage preservation by transforming a historical military relic into an accessible public installation. It invites visitors to reflect on the past while engaging with the landscape in a contemporary context. Notably, despite its initial municipal monument status, Bunker 599 was elevated to a national monument (Rijksmonument).