World War II Promenade

On the night of May 27–28, 1940, the German Army’s 256th Infantry Division occupied our town.
During World War II, Blankenberge held an important military and strategic position as a coastal town. The seaside resort was literally located in a border zone and therefore had to be defended against a possible invasion by Allied forces coming from the sea. Consequently, the Germans built several strongpoints and batteries and barricaded the beach, the dunes, and the seawall as part of the so-called Atlantic Wall operation. Our town also suffered frequent bombings during the war. The residents themselves built numerous defensive structures and were forced to do so by the occupying forces. In addition, our town had many hotels and vacation homes that were requisitioned by the Germans to house troops in transit or on leave. This resulted in a strict food requisition policy imposed by the Germans, to the detriment of the residents. Many residents of Blankenberge suffered from hunger. The black market and smuggling were commonplace, and several armed resistance movements were active in Blankenberge at that time. Notably, many residents of Blankenberge also collaborated with the occupying forces. In other words, the consequences of the war and the occupation on the local population were enormous. This walk will guide you through Blankenberge before, during, and after World War II.

📏 ± 9 km
🕑 2h30
⭐ easy
📍 Escalier de la rue de l’Eglise - Kerkstraattrap
🏁 Casino