Underground Bunker - 25 July 2020
A mysterious underground bunker - creepy. Not much information about it. For this we contacted a Belgian organization that specializes in the history of the Belgian Air Force and Air Force Barracks. The location was known, but there too nobody knew at first what the bunker had been used for. Eventually, a person announced that it was likely a telecom bunker, specifically for the telephone lines. It was not the fixed exchange but a telephone exchange that could be used in an emergency.
And there are indeed switch boxes in the bunker, so that can be right. But why so many beds, stretchers, wheelchair and IV bags. And the papers that are around are obviously only related to medical care and there is an organization chart of a medical detachment. So the location must have had two functions in its existence. Maybe I will get once more info.
Camp Benelux - 13 November 2018
Camp Benelux is an abandoned NATO barracks. Built in 1968 and 800 soldiers of the Belgian 56e Smaldeel van de 9e Wing Missiles moved in. The Camp housed the Belgian military’s defense trucks, trucks that were fitted with long range ballistic missiles capable of hitting targets deep within the Soviet Union. For 31 years, Nike ballistic missiles were stored on site, right up until 1990. In 1991, with the Cold War over, the Belgians vacated the barracks and a small American administrative division moved in, remaining there until 1995. At which point they handed the site back to the German authorities. Since then, the barracks have stood empty, with all attempts to find a possible use for the site failing.
In 1998, the ministry for justice of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia sought to convert the empty barracks into a small jail. The plans were nearly realized, but fell through at the last minute. Eventually, in 2011, the site was sold to a real estate company named HW Immobilien. As far as known the HW Immobilien still own the site, but what they plan to do with it is unclear. A local group of the German Red Cross is currently renting several garages at the barracks, and using them to store their vehicles. Apart from that, the site is still empty and without use.
Camp Hitfeld - 5 October 2018
In the early days this camp was used by the Nazis. After the WWII the ally troops took over the camp. The Belgium Army in Germany was responsible for almost 60 years of allied occupation in Nordrhein Westfalen. This part was under control of the United kingdom after the WWII and the Belgium Army did his work here together with the UK Army. The camp was the home for the 17 Bataljon Transmissietroepen, Staf en Stafcompagnie 51 Bataljon Logistiek, 210 Compagnie Ordonnance, 100 Compagnie Ravitaillering, Compagnie Militaire Post Dienst, 6 Compagnie Militaire Politie, 1 Compagnie Ambulance, and Peloton Transmissie 6 Bataljon Transmissietroepen.
When the Belgium Army left the barracks in the early 1990s, most of the buildings have fallen into decay. The buildings got trashed and vandalized. In 2011, the city council submitted a proposal to convert a large part of the camp into a solar power project and to make the remaining part a nature reserve. But until today nothing changed and leaving the camp to the fate of further decay.
Fort Chartreuse (2nd Visit) - 24 September 2018
Additional information on the fort
The fort ceased operations as a fortification in 1891 and was thereafter used as barracks. From 1914 to 1918 the Germans used it as a prison. In total 49 people were executed on the site. When Germany agreed to an armistice in 1918 Liège returned to Belgian control and the fort was again used as barracks. In the 1930s the fort was extended with new buildings.
After the onset of World War II and Belgium surrendered to the Germans on May 28th 1940, Fort de la Chartreuse yet again became a prison to hold Belgian prisoners of war. When the Allies retook Liege in 1944 it was used by the Americans as a military hospital (28th US Army General Hospital) until the end of the war. It became less and less useful to the Belgium Ministry of Defence and was demilitarized in 1981. The last military left the old fort in 1988.
Boiler House - 14 August 2018
The boiler house at a military base was built in the early fifties and was responsible for the heating of a part of a military camp. A new and much smaller installation was built a few years ago. And since then it is no longer in use. End of this year, the beginning next year the building will be demolished. (Legal Visit)
Fliegerhorst Venlo - 10 August 2018
The former airbase Venlo-Herongen was built between October 1940 and March 1941 on the Groote Heide near Venlo and was named Fliegerhorst Venlo. The complex with two runways of 1450 meters and one of 1200 meters was equipped with the most modern security installations, radio equipment and night lighting, and was extended several times in the following years. The runways were on the Dutch territory and the other buildings were divided on Dutch and German territory.
The Fliegerhorst ran a network of roads with a total length of approximately 48 kilometres between the shelters, shelters, workshops, casinos, football and tennis courts. The Fliegerhorst was the home of the I. Gruppe des Nachtjagdgeschwaders 1, later reinforced with the IV. Gruppe des Jagdgeschwaders 3. Between January 1943 and August 1944, approximately 75 to 100 attacks on the airbase were carried out, with a large proportion of the bombs falling outside the airbase. On September 3, 1944, the base was attacked by 114 RAF aircraft and the take-off and landing area was put out of operation. The base was abandoned by the German aircraft on September 5 and almost all that was left was blown up by the Germans in the days after. After the liberation of Venlo on 1 March 1945 by the Americans, the airfield was put into use by the Americans under the name Y-55 from 10 March 1945 to 20 September 1945.
Fort Sint Pieter - 26 July 2018
Fort Sint Pieter was established in 1701-02 on the northern flank of St. Pietersberg in Maastricht. Until 1867 the fort had a military function as part of the fortifications of Maastricht.
The fort was built in order of the military commander of Maastricht Daniël Wolff baron of Dopff to defend the southern walls of Maastricht. This was found necessary after the French had taken St. Pietersberg in 1673 to place cannons and opened fire on the southern fortification walls. From this fort, every southern attack could now be repelled. The fort was manned by 600 men. The fortress was attacked by the French in 1794 by Kléber. In the beginning of the 19th century it was radically modernized to meet the requirements of that time. The fort lost its defensive function in 1867. (Legal Visit)
Kazerne De Cubber - 6 April 2018
Shortly after the First World War, an important military airport was constructed with a grass track of more than eight hundred meters, and four large hangars. The De Cubber barracks were built in 1921. The typical military style has been well preserved despite some modifications. In 1946 many Italian families of mine workers lived here. The soldiers have left the buildings for a long time, some private companies used part of the buildings.
Luftwaffe Repairbunker - 23 February 2018
This location is a war memorial on the Geulweg between Meerssen and Geulhem, near the entrance to the Curve Quarry. It consists of a well recognizable, partly underground complex that the Germans built for repair of aircraft engines. The complex is partly underground constructed in a number of larger and smaller marl quarries at the foot of and surrounded by hills along the Geul. Only the remnants of the outer part can still be seen.
In 1944 the Allies carried out heavy bombing of Germany Empire with the aim of paralyzing the German war industry. The Germans then responded by creating bombproof workshops for the Luftwaffe. Assignment for the construction was given by the Supreme Command of the Luftwaffe. According to local tradition, the "Vergeltungswaffen" V-I and V-II were manufactured here. In fact, it was a large repair shop for BMW engines for bombers. Every month, two hundred to two hundred and fifty motors would be repaired.
Lost Tanks - 10 February 2018
No remnants of the Second World War. These are tanks of the post-war German army which are left behind on a training ground. Why is actually unclear. Three of the four tanks found - M47 Patton and M41 Walker Buldog tanks.
Fort Chartreuse - 26 January 2018
Fort Chartreuse is built in 1817 by the Dutch and in 1830 came in the hands of the Belgians. The fort has a good strategic location and was under attack by the German soldiers during the First and Second World War. During the Second World War, the Germans used this empty fortress as a prison. Since 1980 the fort has been vacated and since then nature has taken over.
Despite the fact that this fort has been empty for more than 36 years, I found the state exceptionally good. You can clearly see that this complex is used as a prison. If you want to visit as starting Urbexer an location that is easy to enter, then I can certainly recommend Fort de La Chartreuse in Liege.
Building 95 - 24 January 2018
The former military guardhouse dates from the early fifties. Later, a part was added. The largest portion of the building consists of cells. After the construction of a new guardhouse, this building has been left empty. (Legal Visit)
Fort Eben-Emael - 1 October 2017
Fort Eben-Emael, located just south of Maastricht, is an old Belgian defensive work that was part of the outermost eastern fortress belt around Liège. This uniquely situated and excellently armed fort, with 17 underground bunkers, was considered impregnable at the time. Practice showed that the high Belgian expectations of the fort were unjustified. On 10 May 1940 86 well-trained German Fallschirmjäger succeeded by surprise, speed and innovative military techniques to land in a "blind spot" (namely on top of the fort) and to switch off the guns of the fort in fifteen minutes. After a day and a half of siege, the fortress (1,200 men) had to capitulate. (Legal Visit)
