Bijgebouwen, Delenseweg bij 85

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

Introduction

Building 22 stands detached on the east side of the crossroad over the terrain of Kop van Deelen, between buildings 13, 14 and 14a, with on the west side an almost unobstructed field of fire over the airfield. It was possibly built for the 'Nahverteidigung': a bunker for short-range defence. Building 22 was constructed in 1940 and at macro level forms part of a large military airfield structure from the period 1940-1945. At meso level part of a sparse complex of buildings arranged in village-like structure. At micro level part of a loosely grouped cluster of several buildings arranged in linear relationship with varying functions.

Description

A single-storey reinforced concrete BUNKER executed at basement level, presumably for short-range defence, which is built on a substantially rectangular ground plan and which is covered by an almost flat and monolithic reinforced concrete roof. The greatest length of the bunker is parallel to the crossroad and extends from northwest to southeast. On the right in the southwest gable a mass projecting slightly beyond the building line. On the left, slightly above ground level a low and broad loophole and gun port spared by cuts in the wall thickness and a small square opening. The left or northwest gable is executed flat and blind, whilst the likewise blind northeast gable contains a number of similar small square 'openings', which may be relics of ventilation channels or gas lock systems. All gables and the roof show traces of roof felt covering. The right gable is fitted with a built-out concrete portico with several descending steps to basement level. The portico can nowadays be closed off with a later-added iron railwork and leads to a detached sheet steel, outward-opening door on the right. In line with the stairs a similar loophole and gun port with above it in red block letters painted 'No smoking and no use of fire'. The interior comprises at basement level a rectangular space approximately 2.5 m high, with centrally a concrete mushroom column and in two walls fold-down steel flaps, corresponding with the two aforementioned gun ports. Next to this apparent combat room a narrow space which is accessible via a wooden door with to the right of the door a coloured chalk drawing of a standing painting man, shown in profile. In both rooms some relics of tube radiators from an old central heating system with so-called 'perforated ribbed tubes' as convectors. The bunker may possibly contain more rooms, but these were presumably not accessible from the current entrance.

Valuation

BUNKER for defensive purposes, of general importance as a rare and relatively intact component of an army camp stemming from the Second World War and established by the German occupiers as part of a large military airfield, on account of: urban planning, military and cultural-historical, situational and complex and ensemble values, which may be evident inter alia from the camouflage executed in artificial village-like structure, from the specific location with unrestricted view and field of fire over the entire airfield, and from the coherence of and with the total military airfield concept and the spatial main lines and components of the encampment.